By Faith Jemosop
It was a warm, windless Wednesday night in Soweto when the lights went out again. For Thuli Mokoena, a single mother of two, it wasn’t just a power cut. It was another missed homework session for her kids, another cold dinner, and another reminder that South Africa’s power crisis still casts a long shadow.
But what if this scene could become a relic of the past?
A quiet but powerful revolution is charging up behind the scenes, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). And experts say these batteries could finally be the tipping point that stabilizes South Africa’s fragile grid and brings an end to the dreaded load shedding.
How BESS Works to Stabilize Power Supply
Think of the grid like a dance. Every power generator and consumer must stay in sync too much or too little energy, and the whole performance falters. BESS acts like a backup dancer ready to step in at a moment’s notice.
In technical terms, BESS absorbs surplus energy during off-peak times often from renewable sources like solar and wind and then discharges it when demand surges or supply falters. Unlike traditional power stations, batteries react in milliseconds, providing fast-response balancing power to maintain grid stability.
According to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), BESS can play a critical role in “frequency regulation, peak shaving, and reserve power,” particularly during Stage 4 and higher load shedding events. In essence, BESS serves as a buffer, absorbing shocks to prevent blackouts.
Eskom’s Plan to Reduce Blackouts Through Storage Tech
Eskom has recognized the potential. In fact, it has launched one of the most ambitious battery storage rollouts in Africa.
The state utility, with support from the World Bank and African Development Bank, is investing over R10 billion into BESS infrastructure. The first phase 199 MW/833MWh of battery storage across eight sites is already underway and expected to go live in 2025.
The second phase will add another 144 MW/616MWh of storage, bringing the total to over 1,400MWh, enough to power tens of thousands of homes for hours at a time. Eskom’s Chief Energy Officer, Monde Bala, says the aim is simple: “To reduce reliance on peaking plants and provide grid support during high-demand periods.”
For context, this rollout aligns with global trends with China, the U.S., and Australia rapidly deploying BESS as renewables overtake fossil fuels. But in South Africa’s case, the urgency isn’t just about decarbonization. It’s about survival.
Grid-Scale Storage vs Solar/Wind-Only Solutions
While renewable energy is a crucial part of the equation, it’s intermittent by nature. The sun sets. The wind drops. That’s where BESS comes in.
Without storage, a solar panel can only provide power when the sun shines. With BESS, that energy can be stored and used later even at midnight. This transforms renewables from unreliable to dependable.
Analysts at Meridian Economics argue that grid-scale battery storage offers a more cost-effective alternative to diesel-based peaking plants, with lower emissions and quicker deployment. In their words, “solar plus storage is now cheaper than keeping the lights on with gas.”
But here’s the nuance: it’s not an either-or. South Africa needs a blend of solar, wind, and storage all working in concert. The battery doesn’t generate energy; it stores it. Without enough renewable input, batteries can’t save the day alone.
What Will Change by 2026 When BESS Projects Go Live?
If all goes as planned, by 2026, South Africans could see measurable reductions in load shedding, especially during evening peaks and cloudy, windless days.
The battery projects are expected to provide at least 4–6 hours of supply during critical demand periods, helping to bridge gaps between generation and consumption.
This could also free up Eskom’s aging coal plants to undergo much-needed maintenance — a win-win for reliability and emissions. And for communities like Thuli’s, it could mean kids doing homework with the lights on, fridges running through the night, and businesses avoiding losses from outages.
In the long term, widespread deployment of BESS could reduce the need for load shedding stages altogether, particularly when paired with smart grid management and decentralized generation (such as rooftop solar with local storage).
A Human Story Behind the Technology
In the rural town of Graaff-Reinet, the introduction of a community microgrid paired with battery storage has already started changing lives. Installed in 2023 as a pilot, the system powers 100 homes including that of Sipho Mahlangu, a local shop owner.
Before the project, Sipho relied on a noisy diesel generator and candles. “We couldn’t keep milk cold, and the freezer was more of a cupboard,” he laughs. Now, thanks to solar panels feeding into a community BESS, Sipho’s store has refrigeration, lighting, and even a point-of-sale system that accepts cards.
“It’s not just electricity,” Sipho says. “It’s dignity.”
Also read: Is South Africa’s 349-MW Solar Project by NOA a Game Changer or Just Another PR Stunt
His story illustrates the power of decentralized storage: enabling small towns and communities to leapfrog unreliable national infrastructure.
Battery Energy Storage Systems are not a silver bullet. South Africa’s grid still faces structural, political, and financial challenges. But for the first time in years, there’s genuine hope that a technical solution can meet a human crisis head-on.
The real question isn’t whether battery storage can stop load shedding. It’s whether we as a nation will charge forward fast enough to make it happen.
