News Synopsis
Snapshot
Company - Envision Energy will supply the battery energy storage system.
Project - Naos-1 is a hybrid renewable energy project in South Africa.
Storage capacity - The agreement covers a 660MWh battery energy storage system.
Solar capacity - The project includes 300MW of solar PV capacity.
Partners - SOLA Group and WBHO are named partners in the agreement.
Location - The facility is located in the Free State near Viljoenskroon.
Grid model - The facility is designed for grid wheeling through South Africa’s national grid.
Service term - Envision and SOLA Group have a 25-year long-term service agreement.
Envision Energy, a China-based renewable energy technology company, has signed a 660MWh BESS supply agreement with SOLA Group and WBHO for the Naos-1 hybrid renewable energy project in South Africa. The project combines 300MW of solar PV capacity with battery storage for commercial and industrial users. It is located in the Free State near Viljoenskroon and is designed for grid wheeling across South Africa’s national grid. The article identifies Naos-1 as the country’s largest privately contracted hybrid renewable project to reach financial close.
The project structure pairs solar PV generation with storage capacity to provide dispatchable renewable electricity for C&I users. Its grid wheeling design allows electricity generated at the site to be transmitted across the national grid to multiple offtakers. This separates the project’s generation location from the users receiving the electricity, while keeping the facility within South Africa’s grid-connected power system. The article does not disclose the number or identity of the offtakers.
As part of the agreement, Envision Energy will support the storage system from design and manufacturing to operations and maintenance. The company will use its AI-based energy technology to enhance performance, safety, and efficiency over the project’s lifecycle. Envision and SOLA Group have also entered into a 25-year long-term service agreement to support ongoing operations. The source does not provide the financial value of the BESS supply agreement or any delivery schedule for the storage system.
John Lee, General Manager of Asia & Africa Markets at Envision Energy, said that the Naos-1 demonstrates how integrated renewable and storage assets can help deliver reliability, flexibility, and economic value at scale. Ian Burger, Managing Director of SOLA Build at SOLA Group, said that the businesses in South Africa and other markets are looking for energy systems that remain sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective. His remarks tied the project to the role of private-sector investment in energy infrastructure.