Africa’s solar boom turns to storage
Africa’s renewable energy expansion is accelerating, driven primarily by rapid solar deployment across East, West, and Southern Africa. However, as generation capacity scales up, the continent’s core challenge is shifting from installation to integration.
Grid instability, continued diesel dependence, and underdeveloped transmission networks are elevating battery energy storage systems (BESS) from optional add-ons to critical infrastructure. In many African markets, storage is not driven by energy trading or arbitrage, but by essential reliability requirements.
Hybrid microgrids, solar-plus-storage plants, and grid-support systems are increasingly required to stabilise frequency, reduce curtailment, and ensure consistent electricity supply for both communities and industry.
High ambient temperatures, dust exposure, and remote operating environments further raise the technical bar. Projects now demand systems that can operate safely and continuously under harsh conditions, supported by delivery models that extend beyond hardware to include engineering, system controls, and long-term operations.
From components to end-to-end delivery
Across Africa, utilities and developers are moving away from standalone equipment procurement towards integrated storage systems that combine hardware, software, and lifecycle support. This reflects growing recognition that storage performance depends as much on system design and operational intelligence as on battery chemistry.
RelyEZ has structured its Africa strategy around an end-to-end energy storage approach, delivering both integrated project solutions and standalone equipment. Its portfolio comprises three core elements: the GridUltra containerised BESS platform, the Venture Series of flexible application solutions, and an integrated Energy Management System (EMS).
As bankability and risk management become increasingly central to storage deployment—particularly for utility-scale and hybrid microgrid projects—solution providers are strengthening both technical and financial credibility through independent validation and insurance-backed frameworks.
RelyEZ has achieved Tier-1 BESS classification and BBB bankability ratings, with product performance and quality warranties supported by insurance coverage from Munich Re, reflecting a growing emphasis on project security, safety assurance, and long-term operational reliability.
Systems engineered for African operating conditions
GridUltra is a liquid-cooled, containerised BESS platform designed for high-temperature environments and long-duration operation. Its architecture prioritises thermal stability, modular scalability, and enhanced safety—key requirements for utility and commercial projects in Africa’s demanding climates.
The Venture Series extends this platform into a family of solutions tailored for diverse applications, including utility-scale renewable integration, commercial and industrial backup power, and hybrid solar-storage-diesel microgrids. Its modular design enables faster deployment while maintaining consistent system standards across project sizes and geographies.
At the intelligence layer, RelyEZ’s EMS converts storage systems into controllable grid assets, enabling real-time monitoring, optimised charge and discharge strategies, seamless integration with solar and diesel generation, and support for grid services such as peak management and frequency stabilisation.
Project delivery aligned with Africa’s priorities
RelyEZ’s current African deployments reflect the continent’s most pressing needs: energy access and reliability.
In Kenya, the company has secured a contract to deliver integrated solar-storage-diesel microgrid systems for nine remote villages across Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu, and Isiolo counties under the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC). These systems aim to replace unreliable diesel generation with stable hybrid power, improving electricity access while reducing fuel consumption and operating costs.
In West Africa, RelyEZ has also been awarded a large-scale EPC project in Burkina Faso, comprising 40 MW of photovoltaic capacity coupled with a 10 MW/30 MWh BESS. The project is designed to support power supply in the Koudougou area by enhancing grid stability and improving reliability through PV-plus-storage integration.
Looking ahead
As Africa’s renewable transition enters a new phase, battery energy storage is emerging as the backbone of resilient power systems. Integrated delivery models that combine robust hardware, intelligent control systems, and lifecycle support are increasingly essential to ensure long-term performance and financial viability.
Through its GridUltra platform, Venture Series solutions, and EMS technology, RelyEZ is aligning its capabilities with Africa’s growing demand for reliable, bankable, and scalable energy storage infrastructure.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of RelyEZ.
