Mumbai, July 15 -- Envision Energy has secured a contract to supply a 660 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) for the Naos 1 renewable project in the Free State province near Viljoenskroon. The agreement with the SOLA Group and construction firm WBHO covers supply, system design and long-term operational support under a 25-year service agreement. The facility will pair the BESS with a 300 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) plant to form a privately contracted hybrid renewable development.
Naos 1 has reached financial close as the largest privately contracted hybrid renewable energy project in South Africa and will use power wheeling across Eskom's national electricity grid to deliver clean electricity to multiple commercial and industrial customers. This model allows businesses across different regions to procure renewable electricity without proximity to the generating plant. The project will therefore widen access to utility-scale green power for corporate offtakers.
Envision will be responsible for manufacturing, installation oversight and long-term management of the BESS and will operate an artificial intelligence based energy management platform to optimise charging and discharging cycles. The AI driven system is designed to monitor electricity demand, manage storage and dispatch and improve overall system efficiency and battery performance. The integrated approach aims to provide a reliable and stable supply of renewable electricity to end users.
The Naos 1 scheme demonstrates the rapid expansion of South Africa's private renewable market and the role of hybrid projects in supporting the transition from fossil fuels while meeting growing demand for dependable power. By combining utility scale solar, advanced battery storage and grid based wheeling arrangements the project sets a model for commercial and industrial decarbonisation. Implementation will proceed under the partnership terms agreed by the developer, funder and construction partner.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.