Erongo Battery Energy Storage System

{{EngvarB|date=February 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox power station | name = Erongo Battery Energy Storage System | name_official = | image = | image_caption = | image_alt = | country = Namibia | coordinates = {{coord|21|29|49|S|16|01|40|E|display=inline, title}} | location = Omaruru, Erongo Region | status = P | construction_began = | commissioned = | decommissioned = | cost = €26 million | owner = NamPower | operator = NamPower | solar_type = | ps_site_area = | ps_units_operational = | ps_units_manu_model = | ps_units_uc = | ps_units_planned = | ps_units_cancelled = | ps_units_decommissioned = | thermal_capacity = | ps_electrical_capacity = {{convert|58|MW|abbr=on}} | ps_electrical_cap_fac = | ps_annual_generation = | website = | extra = }}

The '''Erongo Battery Energy Storage System''', also '''Erongo BESS''', is a planned {{convert|58|MW|abbr=on}} battery energy storage system installation in Namibia. The BESS, the first of its kind in the country and in the Southern African region, will be capable of providing 72MWh of clean energy to the Namibian grid.<ref name="1R">{{cite web|date=18 December 2021 |url=https://www.erongo.com.na/news/bess-to-reduce-major-renewable-energy-expansion-challenges-2021-12-18/ |title=BESS to reduce major renewable energy expansion challenges |work=Erongo Namibia (© Copyright 2022 Namibia Media Holdings) | access-date=1 February 2022 |author=Erongo News}}</ref><ref name="2R">{{cite web|url=https://www.energy-storage.news/e20m-grant-funding-for-namibias-first-grid-scale-bess-from-germanys-national-development-bank/ |title=€20m grant funding for Namibia's first grid-scale BESS from Germany's national development bank |work=Energy Storage News |date=24 December 2021 |author=Andy Colthorpe |access-date=1 February 2022 | location=London, United Kingdom}}</ref>

==Location== The BESS unit would be located at the site of NamPower's ''Omburu Substation'', approximately {{convert|12|km|0}}, southeast of the city of Omaruru in the Erongo Region, in central Namibia.<ref name="1R"/> The geographical coordinates of this location are:21°29'49.0"S, 16°01'40.0"E (Latitude:-21.496944; Longitude:16.027778).<ref name="3R">{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/21%C2%B029'49.0%22S+16%C2%B001'40.0%22E/@-21.4886702,16.0244585,2800m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xd40671ba96f213f!8m2!3d-21.4969444!4d16.0277778 | title=Location of NamPower's ''Omburu Substation'' And Future Location of Erongo BESS |access-date=1 February 2022}}</ref>

==Overview== The BESS station has storage capacity of 58 megawatts. Its design allows for a discharge capacity of 72MWh of energy into the Namibian grid. The BESS is expected to store "locally generated renewable power as well as electricity imported from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)". The electricity will be stored at off-peak times, when it is cheaper. The stored energy can then be discharged "during peak times".<ref name="2R"/>

The intended benefits include (a) stabilization of NamPower's grid (b) act as a back-up, if and when existing generation facilities fail (c) reduce the cost of electricity fed through the SAPP.<ref name="4R">{{cite web| work=Arik21.africa | url=https://www.afrik21.africa/en/namibia-kfw-grants-e20m-for-large-scale-electricity-storage/ |title=Namibia: KfW grants €20m for large-scale electricity storage |date=31 January 2022 | author=Jean Marie Takouleu |access-date=1 February 2022 | location=Paris, France}}</ref>

==Developers== The BESS station is under development by the Namibia Power Corporation (Pty) Limited, who own the station. The development receives support (financial and technical) from the German State-Owned Investment and Development Bank (KfW). In December 2021, KfW made a grant of €20 million towards the development of this project, estimated at 80 percent of total cost. NamPower is expected to contribute about 20 percent of the cost and pay any outstanding taxes not covered by the KfW grant.<ref name="1R"/><ref name="2R"/><ref name="4R"/>

In December 2023, NamPower selected a consortium of two Chinese companies to jointly develop the power station. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was awarded to a joint venture between ''Shandong Electrical, Engineering & Equipment Group'' and ''Zhejiang Narada Power Source''. Construction is expected to start in Q1 2024 and commercial commissioning is planned for H2 2025.<ref name="XXR">{{cite web| url=https://www.afrik21.africa/en/namibia-chinas-shandong-and-zhejiang-to-store-solar-energy-in-omburu/ |title=Namibia: China's Shandong and Zhejiang to store solar energy in Omburu |date=20 December 2023 |work=Afrik21.africa |author=Jean Marie Takouleu | access-date=20 December 2023 |location=Paris, France}}</ref> Zhejiang Narada struggled financially in 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=Narada Power faces deepening liquidity crisis after debt defaults, bank account freezes |url=https://www.ess-news.com/2026/05/11/narada-power-faces-deepening-liquidity-crisis-after-debt-defaults-bank-account-freezes/ |website=Energy Storage |date=11 May 2026}}</ref>

==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Renewable energy}}}} * List of power stations in Namibia * Battery storage power station * Balama Solar Power Station

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://neweralive.na/in/posts/nampower-gets-n400m-battery-system-grant NamPower gets N$400m battery system grant] As of 21 December 2021.

Category:Power stations in Namibia Category:Erongo Region Category:Renewable energy power stations in Namibia