The limits of storage-only thinking in balancing Africa’s renewable grids: Why a hybrid approach to flexibility will deliver better outcomes than batteries alone.
Africa’s energy transition is entering a decisive phase.
With some of the world’s best solar and wind resources, the continent is uniquely positioned to leapfrog into a low-cost, renewable-powered future.
But as policymakers and planners accelerate deployment, a critical misconception often skews the debates: that battery energy storage systems alone can provide the flexibility needed to balance high shares of intermittent renewables.
This assumption is not only incomplete, but it also risks making Africa’s energy transition more expensive, less reliable, and ultimately slower.
