Solar Alone Won’t Power Africa, Here’s How AFSIA Says Storage Will Help

As African nations aim to address energy deficits and shift towards cleaner energy sources, a growing trend is emerging: combining solar power with energy storage systems.

This approach is gaining momentum due to the decreasing cost of battery technology and an increasing understanding of the benefits of energy storage.

From pioneering initiatives in South Africa to projects across the continent, solar-plus-storage is set to transform Africa’s energy landscape.

South Africa was one of the first African nations to recognize the potential of combining solar and energy storage.

In 2020, it launched the Risk Mitigation IPP Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) to address short-term electricity supply challenges and reduce dependence on diesel generators.

The RMIPPPP emphasized the need for “dispatchability,” or the ability to deliver power on demand, a challenge for renewable energy.

As a result, several solar and storage projects emerged as preferred bidders. A notable example is the Kenhardt 1-2-3 project by Scatec, which combines 540 MW of solar capacity with 225 MW/1,140 MWh of battery storage.

Commissioned in 2024, this project demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale solar-plus-storage solutions.

Inspired by South Africa’s success, other African nations, including Senegal, Malawi, Botswana, Tanzania, Namibia, and Mauritius, have launched similar projects, recognizing the benefits of solar-plus-storage.

Some of these initiatives focus on large-scale storage systems connected to the grid but not tied to specific power generation plants.

HAVE YOU READ?

How IFC and SIMA’s Solar Bond is Slashing Energy Costs and Boosting SME Growth in Africa

South Africa’s commitment to energy storage is further illustrated by its Battery Energy Storage IPP Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP), introduced in 2023.

Now in its third bid window, BESIPPPP projects are already under construction, with a total capacity of 513 MW/2,052 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Renewable energy company AMEA Power won two standalone battery storage projects as part of Bid Window 2, each with a capacity exceeding 300 MWh.

These projects are expected to help stabilize Eskom’s grid.

Other African nations are making significant strides in the solar-plus-storage sector.

Egypt is a leader in utility-scale solar and storage, with a 900 MW/720 MWh project, followed by Gambia, which is developing a 100 MW/130 MWh project.

These developments showcase the increasing scale and ambition of solar-plus-storage initiatives in Africa.

In 2024, Africa’s total photovoltaic (PV) capacity reached 19.2 GW, up 2.5 GW from 2023.

South Africa and Egypt accounted for nearly 80% of new solar capacity additions, but other nations, including Zambia, Nigeria, and Angola, are also expanding their solar energy infrastructure.

The surge in demand for solar-plus-storage is fueled by rapidly falling prices for stationary storage solutions.

As battery technology becomes more affordable, these projects are increasingly economically viable. The African Solar Industry Association (AFSIA) describes 2024 as a boom for energy storage, with cumulative storage capacity increasing tenfold from 150 MWh in 2023 to 1,641 MWh in 2024.

AFSIA has identified around 18 GWh of storage projects under development across Africa, driven by the declining costs of storage technology.

The growth of solar-plus-storage in Africa is significant for the continent’s energy future.

By combining solar power with energy storage, African countries can overcome the intermittency issues of solar energy and deliver reliable, sustainable electricity to their citizens.

This approach reduces reliance on fossil fuels, combats climate change, and enhances energy independence.

As costs continue to fall and technology evolves, solar-plus-storage is set to play a key role in Africa’s sustainable development.