Green Energy Webinar
Nic Dinham
DRD completed the construction of a combined 60MW PV and 160MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in October 2024. This R3bn facility aims to secure the long-term viability of ERGO’s low-grade resources.
Several companies are either building or considering PV projects. However, the combination with a battery system may be among the first of this type in SA.
DRD shared some of the details of the plant and its real-world performance since commissioning, as well as its operational philosophy, in a recent webinar hosted by Nic Dinham of SBG Securities (see link below).
The webinar and discussions with Niel Pretorius (CEO) and Jaco Schoeman (Technical Director) made it clear that the system is complex and requires long-life resources, Eskom connections and base load supply, offset and wheeling accounts, as well as rapid AI-assisted decision-making to optimize its financial benefits.
The operational benefits of the facility are already apparent. Although a full year will be needed to assess the financial benefits, DRD maintains its guidance that ERGO should save between R200m and R300m a year.
The investment rewards should increase with (a) the frequency of curtailment and load shedding events, and (b) if ERGO can access carbon credits and/or other green energy reward schemes.
The system components are expected to last between 15 years (BESS) and 20 years (PV), assuming ERGO maintains its current operational and State of Charge strategies.
For those who were unable to attend, please click here to watch the webinar video.
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