Eskom Activates 20 MW/100 MWh Hex Battery Energy Storage System in Worcester

Eskom has switched on a 20 MW/100 MWh Hex battery energy storage system (BESS) in Worcester, Western Cape province, South Africa.

The Hex battery energy storage system (BESS), with a five-hour duration, marks the inaugural completion of Eskom's prominent battery storage initiative, unveiled in July 2022 to alleviate strain on the national power grid. The broader expansion encompasses substantial batteries generating 1,440 MWh per day and 60 MW of solar power. This rollout will occur in two phases across 12 South African sites. Phase one involves installing approximately 199 MW/833 MWh of battery storage projects with 2 MW of photovoltaic (PV), while phase two includes implementing 144 MW/616 MWh of battery capacity and 58 MW of solar power.

The initiation of the Hex BESS project directly addresses the pressing demand to mitigate South Africa's longstanding electricity challenges by augmenting storage capacity to fortify the grid and diversify the current energy generation mix.