Chinese solar and storage solutions manufacturer Sungrow has launched new models of commercial and industrial (C&I) battery energy storage systems (BESS), which improve on their predecessor models, in the South African market.

The new ST255 and ST510 systems are designed for larger alternating current (ac) and direct current (dc) C&I applications with grid-forming technology that can ensure stable and secure power supply.

Grid-forming solutions such as these have the ability to establish their own voltage and frequency, which supports power quality and addresses issues such as harmonic pollution and voltage flickering.

These models also proactively address load imbalance and save on costs of isolation transfer, while being equipped with multi-level protection to ensure battery, electrical and fire safety simultaneously.

Sungrow solutions manager Ola Hassan elaborates that the low-voltage ac solution supports 100% single-phase unbalanced load, with no isolation transformer required, thereby enabling customers to save on cost and withstand surge loads.

All of Sungrow’s BESS products are self-temperature-controlled to ensure optimum cell productivity and safety. The new BESS systems have advanced liquid cooling techniques that prolong the product lifespan to more than 12 years.

Hassan says the AI-driven liquid cooling technology enhances efficiency by 22 times compared with the prior BESS models and reduces cooling power consumption by 33%.

Moreover, she explains the ST255 CS series is an upgrade from the ST200 CS, now featuring a 125 kW power conversion system and 257 kWh battery capacity.

The ac-coupled system supports up to 20 units in parallel for offgrid applications and 25 units for ongrid applications.

In respect of dc coupling, the new SH125 CX system offers a flexible hub fit for more PV panels – it can connect up to 24 units in parallel – with the system offering 3 MW of PV inverter capacity and 6 MWh of storage capacity.

The SH125 CX inverter supports up to 250 kW of PV capacity.

The dc coupling is suitable for ongrid and offgrid applications with different parallel connection capacities.

This solution includes a patented pressure relief structure that ensures durability and safety, as well as simplified maintenance serviceability, which enables faster turnaround and lower levelized cost of energy.

Should a customer seek more power demand, Sungrow offers a medium-voltage solution with PowerTitan 2.0, which provides higher power integration, higher capability and higher efficiency.

The new offerings ultimately handle unbalanced loads and surge loads with high starting currents better. It also accommodates more PV panels and higher output currents.

Meanwhile, Sungrow is in the process of developing a new modular battery capable of up to 50 kWh per module. By connecting four modules in series to create a battery rack, power capacity can expand to 1 000 kWh.

Hassan believes the modular design of the battery can revolutionise the storage industry.

Sungrow established a presence in the South African market in 2017, with multiple successful solar PV and BESS projects having been completed.

MARKET VIEW

Sungrow is seeing a clear shift towards renewable energy in South Africa, particularly in the C&I space, as companies seek to lower costs and ensure more reliable electricity.

This transition is supported by the growing adoption of energy storage systems, which enable businesses to store off-peak energy and maintain power supply at any time.

The total cost of BESS installations has decreased from $266/kWh in 2017 to $112/kWh this year, marking an average yearly reduction of 10%.

Africa Solar Industry Association founder John van Zuylen says 22 GW of solar capacity is now installed in Africa, of which 9 GW is in the C&I space. However, the continent still imports between 60 GW and 75 GW of electricity, of which between 28 GW and 35 GW is destined for the C&I segment.

He says energy storage installations increased 11-fold in 2024 and again 13-fold this year, with more than 20 GWh of storage projects being under way. “Storage is driving Africa’s solar growth, not the opposite,” Van Zuylen states.

The decrease in costs of solar and storage components has reshaped the industry, making solar and storage projects more financially viable across Africa. He cites examples of utility-scale projects in Mauritius, Senegal and Egypt as showcasing the significant cost reductions and benefits of using solar PV and storage systems.

Notable examples of C&I solar and storage installations in Africa include a data centre in Botswana with capacities of 250 MW and 400 MWh of storage, and mining and metallurgical projects in Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo totalling 500 MW and 200 MWh of storage, and 222 MW and 525 MWh of storage, respectively.

According to Sungrow channel sales director Teddy Wang, 800 GWh of storage was installed in sub-Saharan Africa to date, with this to grow by an expected 1 GWh in 2026.

Some of the most prominent applications for BESS are agriculture, shopping centres, electric vehicle charging stations, hospitals and factories.

Wang affirms that Sungrow’s BESS solutions offer carbon neutralisation, grid capacity expansion, demand control, energy arbitrate, maximum self-consumption and emergency backup power.

The challenges, however, include the market being in its infancy in South Africa and therefore returns on investment are not clear. There is also weak local manufacturing support for integrated solutions.

Additionally, BESS systems sometimes struggle to operate efficiently in many parts of South Africa’s hot and humid environments.

To this end, Sungrow provides comprehensive support including product development and service support, with its South African employees understanding local market needs and specific project challenges.