South Africa tops renewable energy growth in 2023
With increasingly worrisome effects of climate change unravelling and deadlines for nations to live up to their sustainability pledges rapidly approaching, governments have been under pressure to ramp up their investments in eco-friendly alternative energy supplies.
Now, mid-year market overviews are emerging, and we are beginning to see just how much progress has been made toward the development of renewables around the world.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s latest Renewable Energy Market Update, global renewable energy capacity additions are on track to rise by a record-breaking 107GW in 2023. If achieved, global total renewable energy capacity will hit 440GW — excellent news for all passionate about ensuring a greener future.
And that is not all we have to celebrate.
Business Monitor International (BMI) has recently taken a closer look at the state of Sub-Saharan Africa’s renewables industry, setting out which countries are making the most progress in what areas, and South Africa has earned the top spot!
So, allow us to sum up BMI’s findings, including what it discovered about Kenya and Zambia’s renewable journeys, and recommend a commercial-scale battery from Pylontech that will help installers cater to the big projects driving capacity expansion this year.
Nations leading the way
The headline statistic from BMI’s latest renewables research is that South Africa is on track to possess the largest renewables market in the Sub-Saharan African region over the next decade, accounting for 68% of total capacity by the end of the year.
As for how this outstanding achievement will be possible, BMI cites the country’s supportive environment for private-sector investment. It says the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP) has fostered ideal conditions for IPPs to invest in renewable energy projects, making it something of a golden ticket to energy sector success.
Also sitting high in the renewable energy capacity ranks is Kenya, which will grow its non-hydropower renewable capacity by almost 600MW in the next 10 years thanks to its pledge to establish a carbon-free energy sector by 2030.
Plus, BMI put Zambia on its list of ones to watch for the next decade, forecasting it will increase its renewable capacity by just over 1GW in this time period — 600MW of which will come from solar power. This will help prevent outages caused during dry periods resulting from the country’s reliance on hydropower.
Excitingly, BMI’s research shows solar will take the lead for Sub-Saharan Africa’s renewable capacity generation through to 2032 — making up 46.6% of total renewables generation from now until then. Of course, we can assume that this is due to the region’s ample sunlight hours, as well as the reliability and cost-effectiveness of solar power, but BMI has another factor in mind: commercial solar projects.
In its report, BMI explains that South African system operators are adapting to accommodate larger PV installations, prompting investors to support more extensive developments. Which brings us to a distinguished solar energy storage solution that is ideal for the turn towards bigger, better systems…
An exceptional commercial-scale battery
Since being founded in 2009, Pylontech has built a name for itself in the solar energy storage market — delivering top-quality PV batteries to over 80 countries. Whilst installers might be most familiar with the brand’s array of residential-scale products, such as the ‘US’ and ‘UP’ batteries, it is also responsible for one of today’s most impressive commercial battery models: the Powercube H2.
This 3.552kWh, 48V unit contains all the features needed for an impressive commercial PV system, namely a modular design concept that enables easy system expansion. For example, with its ability to support up to 12 modules per rack and up to six racks in a parallel, the Powercube H2 can supply up to 576V for high-voltage applications. It can also support both rack-mounted and container-based systems. So, this battery can cater to a range of commercial requirements, which is ideal as these types of PV projects continue to emerge and bring South Africa closer to its renewable energy goals.
What’s more, the Powercube H2 is equipped with enhanced safety features to ensure a powerful commercial energy supply without the added risk of system failures. Whilst the in-built battery management system (BMS) provides protection against unsafe charges, currents and temperatures, superior lithium-ion phosphate (LiFePO4) technology reduces the chance of the unit overheating — keeping fires at bay.
Pylontech also supplies the heavy duty PowerTower and lockable door kits to store the Powercube H2 away from dust and other elements that might negatively impact system performance — completing a premium commercial energy storage solution.
Support renewable energy projects and cater to this year’s commercial PV installations by stocking up on the Pylontech Powercube H2 today. Just log in or sign up for a free account on the SegenSolar portal!