What is South Africa's energy supply roadmap?

South Africa’s electricity supply roadmap, the (2019 Integrated Resource Plan) has set a target for a battery storage capacity of between 2GW and 6.6GW by 2032. This aligns with the global push for a 25% annual growth in battery storage to reach 1,500 GW by 2030, according to IEA.

What is the biggest energy import in South Africa?

Despite this decline, oil & oil products remain the largest energy product import for South Africa, accounting for almost 80% of all energy imports in 2021. On the consumption side, oil & oil products are mainly used by the transport & storage and manufacturing industries.

Does South Africa have a battery storage sector?

South Africa’s vast reserves of manganese and vanadium position the country to take on a more prominent role in the battery storage sector. Manganese, an essential element in lithium-ion batteries used for powering electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy grids, is particularly significant. Have you read?

Can solar power increase battery pack imports in South Africa?

South Africa’s transition from coal-dominated electricity generation to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar presents an opportunity to increase battery pack imports. At present, over 80% of SA’s energy is produced from burning coal – solar and wind contribute around 12%.

Does South Africa have a battery supply chain?

Europe, the US and Korea each hold 10% or less of the supply chain for some battery metals and cells, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). South Africa’s role in this landscape is primarily as an exporter of raw materials. Only about 10% of the country’s vanadium is used domestically, the rest is exported, says Nikomarov.

How can a battery factory boost South Africa's economy?

The CES study highlights that refining key battery raw materials in a short-term period of one year could lead to 2,500 new jobs directly and 23,000 more jobs indirectly, and add R18.8 billion to the economy. South Africa imports battery packs for assembly, mostly to China which has well-established battery production facilities.