Sharing Renewable Energy Generation through, Mobile Energy Storage (MES) 

Partners: Smart Grid Controls Ltd (Lead), Renewable Circle Solutions (Pty) Ltd, University Of Pretoria, University Of York

Country: South Africa

Technology: Next generation solar technologies and business models

Stage: Early

Stage: 9

In South Africa, the generation of renewable energy has been encouraged through the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme (REIPPP). This programme requires IPPs to allocate 2.5% of their total funding to socio-economic projects. 

This project seeks to test the feasibility of charging a bank of small batteries from solar farms installed by IPPs, then utilising those batteries to provide power to low income/rural households and micro businesses. It is envisaged that the power would be provided free of charge as part of the IPPs social commitment.

The operational model we wish to test is for a social enterprise to manage the distribution of the batteries to households within a prescribed programme. It is envisaged that the batteries would be replaced on a weekly basis. We wish to test the ideal size of battery for this purpose and the most practical arrangements for this, within a dispersed rural community.