Industrial energy company Energy Partners equipped DSV’s three largest South African transport hubs, namely Riverhorse, in Durban, Plumbago, in Johannesburg, and Solar City, in Cape Town, with integrated solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

The project, which was completed in under ten months, saw a total of 4 MW of solar PV installations paired with 7 MWh of battery storage, says Energy Partners power GM Charl du Plessis.

A key requirement from DSV was that the transition between power sources had to be completely interruption-free, although this had not before been attempted for a medium-voltage connected site in South Africa, he says.

Energy Partners deployed an uninterrupted power supply system that guarantees a seamless transition between grid and battery power. The system was paired with its control system, which allows the company to remotely monitor and actively control the allocation of electricity on the sites.

Further, the system also helps to reduce DSV’s carbon footprint.

“We integrated renewable-energy generation and battery storage with DSV’s existing diesel power generation and grid connection and our advanced control system ensures cleaner energy sources are prioritised and fully optimised,” says Du Plessis.

The system automatically switches between power sources to maintain operation continuity and stabilises any fluctuations in grid-tied supply. It also has the built-in flexibility to accommodate any future upgrades to ensure the DSV facilities remain future-proofed, he adds.

“This project is instrumental in ensuring smooth operations in the long term for DSV. The DSV solar and BESS project shows what can be achieved to ensure security of supply and long-term sustainability in the commercial and industrial sector,” says DSV property and facilities management, QSHE, sustainability and projects director Sbusiso Dlamini.

With the recent changes in South Africa’s energy landscape, including above-inflation tariff increases and a 45% decline in battery cell prices over the last three years, the business case for commercial and industrial BESS solutions has accelerated.

“This project shows that the right solution can be engineered at scale without compromising operational continuity,” says Du Plessis.