Cape Town solar company launches Africa’s first gigawatt battery plant

Energy storage company Solar MD has officially opened the first gigawatt factory on the continent, capable of producing up to 3GWh of energy storage annually.

The 15,000-square-metre factory, located in Cape Town, has been operational since July. However, it was officially inaugurated on Saturday, 30 November 2024.

“Since 2014, we’ve had this vision to provide power for Africa with a product that empowers the community,” said Solar MD CEO and founder Kaloyan Dimov.

According to Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development, and Tourism Ivan Meyer, the investment will help the metro achieve its economic goals.

“This significant investment into the Western Cape is welcomed. Energy security is a critical enabler of our Growth for Jobs strategy and our goal of creating an R1 trillion economy by 2025,” said Meyer.

“We aim to grow private sector investment to 20% of the regional GDP, translating to R200 billion by 2035. Private Sector Investment will be valued at R75 billion in 2030.”

Cape Town MMC for Economic Growth James Vos also attended the ceremony and described the launch as a major achievement for Cape Town and the African renewable energy sector.

Vos was also present at the groundbreaking ceremony when construction began in August 2023.

“It’s rewarding to witness the transformation of this project and its role in Cape Town’s rise as a hub for renewable energy,” he said.

“This factory is a testament to visionary leadership and partnership in advancing our green economy.”

The new facility in Richmond Park is roughly four times the size of Solar MD’s previous facility in Montague Gardens. It can produce up to 300 batteries per day at the new plant, up from 120 at the Montague Gardens site.

“This development marks an exciting moment for Cape Town,” Vos said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

“Not only does this investment fuel Cape Town’s drive towards a smarter, cleaner and more secure energy future, but it also makes this metro the base for the production of these batteries that are exported into Africa and Europe.”