Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are becoming increasingly key to achieving solar project bankability in Africa, according to a webinar hosted by the Africa Solar Industry Association (AFSIA).
The second day of AFSIA’s four day e-conference on storage solutions focused on addressing the financial considerations when deploying solar energy storage across Africa.
Zoë Pierre, Investment Principal at African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), told attendees that while Africa has world-beating solar resources, bankability is increasingly dependent on delivering flexible, dispatchable power.
Pierre said AIIM, which develops and manages private equity funds for African infrastructure projects, is increasingly focused on platforms that combine solar, storage, flexible dispatch and sophisticated market participation.
“That’s where we think long-term value creation is going,” Pierre said. “The winners of Africa’s energy transition won’t just generate renewable power, they’ll deliver it when the system needs it most. Africa has incredible renewable resources, the challenge is flexibility and bankability.”
