South Africa's Battery System Ends Blackouts for Farmers

At 4:47 a.m., Pieter Loubser's alarm rings and his dairy cows are already stirring, their bodies programmed for a precise milking schedule that can't wait for electricity. For years, South Africa's load shedding power cuts threatened that rhythm, but now Africa's first utility-scale battery storage system keeps Worcester running without interruption.

The HEX Battery Energy Storage System stores 100 megawatt hours of energy, enough to power Worcester's farms and processing plants for five uninterrupted hours during peak demand. When wind turbines generate excess electricity at night while people sleep, the system captures it and releases it at dawn precisely when dairy barns and factories power up.

"The cows don't want surprises; they want the same time of feeding, the same time of milking," Loubser explains. "Luckily, load shedding is gone, and that's a big one for us."

The facility uses 360 advanced lithium-ion batteries delivering 20 megawatts of storage capacity, technology that was completely new to the continent. Eskom, South Africa's public utility, partnered with South Korea's Hyosung Heavy Industries to build the system with support from a $57.67 million investment from the Clean Technology Fund through the African Development Bank.

The project began commercial operations in October 2023 after successful testing. Two additional facilities in Graafwater and Paleisheuwel now operate alongside HEX, demonstrating the technology's reliability.

"We dispatch these batteries here to make sure customers are not affected," says Timothy Nzimande, Eskom Senior Project Engineer. "The farmers can still run their motors without any problems."

The Ripple Effect

The Worcester success is already reshaping energy policy across Africa. Countries are now incorporating battery storage technology into their national energy master plans after seeing HEX work in real conditions.

"South Africa was the first to jump into the pool and go for this innovative technology," says Anthony Karembu from the African Development Bank. Energy specialists from around the world are visiting the site to learn from the implementation.

Eskom has established a new division called Eskom Green focused on expanding renewable energy paired with battery storage across South Africa. The project prioritized hiring local workers and supporting small businesses in Worcester, extending benefits beyond reliable electricity.

The technology proves that Africa can leapfrog outdated energy infrastructure and move directly to clean, reliable power systems that work with the continent's abundant renewable resources.