NEWS

Ambri, provider of long-duration energy storage, announced that SA energy company Earth & Wire has placed an order for Ambri’s Liquid Metal battery system.

When completed, it will be the largest battery energy storage system to be deployed in South Africa. The Liquid Metal battery system will serve a 300MW, 1,200 MWh combined wind- and solar-powered generation site in the Eastern Cape.

As demand for energy increases and Eskom begins to decommission its coal-generation fleet, these systemic issues will require the introduction of renewable energy resources that can connect effectively and supply consistently into the national grid.

Adam Briggs, Chief Commercial Officer at Ambri said: “Our companies share a mission of accelerating the decarbonisation of grids and enabling consumers to meet their energy needs from renewable resources. As South Africa works to address its current energy challenges, this partnership – and our technology more broadly – will help Earth & Wire and other renewable energy providers solve long-standing operational challenges and stabilise their nation’s energy grids.”

“As we’ve continued to develop, construct, grow and sell our pipeline of renewable energy projects across South Africa, we’ve been looking for the right partner to meet the challenges of storing the excess energy we generate and providing our customers with a full-spectrum, 24-hour source of electricity. Ambri is that partner,” said Thomas Garner, Business Development Executive at Earth & Wire. “We look forward to utilising their battery system to provide affordable, reliable clean energy to all Southern Africans, from all walks of life.”

By deploying Ambri’s technology, Earth & Wire will be able to help manage fluctuations in supply and demand and work toward providing consistent and responsive electrical power to their South African customers. Ambri will begin shipping batteries for this project in 2024 with installation expected to be completed in 2026.