Battery facility a first for Africa

WORCESTER -- A Battery Energy Storage System in the Western Cape can power a small town for up to five hours.

Power utility Eskom has unveiled the 20MW-facility in the town of Worcester.

Government says the Hex Battery Energy Storage System is line with its aim for the country’s power security, as well as its greener energy future.

Construction on the R815-million facility, which is already connected to the national power grid, was completed in a year.

Eskom officials say it can uninterruptedly power a town the size of Caledon, Morreesburg or Vredenburg for five hours.

The facility can be remotely controlled from Eskom’s Megawatt Park headquarters.

Local leaders have welcomed the site’s construction in the region.

Government has emphasised the importance of using technology and innovation to solve the country’s challenges.

A first of its kind on the African continent, lawmakers refer to this facility as a history-making project in line with government’s efforts to become less carbon-intensive.

Two similar projects in KwaZulu-Natal are at an advanced stage in terms of construction.

And another project in the Western Cape is about to start with four other sites while the Northern Cape is on the cusp of being started.

* eNCA's Kevin Brandt reports.