Renewable energy sources combined with energy storage play a vital role in South Africa's pursuit of energy security and achieving its net-zero objective by 2050. As South Africa grapples with a deepening energy crisis, energy storage technologies are gaining prominence, with batteries taking precedence in the short to medium term. Given the growing need for grid storage and the capability of VRFBs to meet demand for applications requiring extended storage duration, this policy brief investigates the potential benefits of VRFBs in addressing local market requirements for energy security. It examines the key cost drivers of VRFBs, with a focus on the vanadium price and provides recommendations for reducing the costs associated with VRFB systems.
See Main Research Report: Localising vanadium battery production for South Africa's energy security