On the wilderness of the Free State Province in South Africa, photovoltaic panels are being laid out under the scorching sun, but solar energy has a "temper" - it generates electricity vigorously during the day and stops at any time in the evening. How to turn this intermittent sunlight into 24-hour controllable stable electricity? The answer given by Yuanjing Energy is to equip it with a super large "power bank".

In 2026, Far East Energy signed an agreement with SOLA Group and WBHO to supply a 660MWh battery energy storage system for the Naos-1 project in South Africa. This project is equipped with 300MW photovoltaic and 660MWh energy storage, and is currently the largest privately-owned contracted hybrid renewable energy project in South Africa that has completed financing.

Photovoltaic+energy storage, solving the problem of "relying on the weather to make a living"

The Naos-1 project is located near Viljoenskroon in the Free State Province of South Africa. The core design concept is to provide dispatchable renewable electricity to private enterprises through the national grid transfer mechanism.

South Africa has abundant renewable energy resources, but power fluctuations have long plagued users. The characteristic of photovoltaics operating at full capacity at noon and returning to zero in the evening does not fully match the peak period of industrial and commercial electricity consumption. The addition of a 660MWh energy storage system is equivalent to building a large "power reservoir" next to the photovoltaic power station - storing electricity when there is sufficient sunlight and releasing it during peak electricity consumption, making clean electricity controllable and dispatchable, thereby improving the stability of the power grid.

This project is currently the largest private hybrid energy project in South Africa that has completed financing, and its financing closure itself marks the market's recognition of the "photovoltaic+energy storage" integrated model.

Equipment supply+25 year long cycle operation and maintenance

According to the agreement, Far East Energy will rely on vertically integrated battery energy storage technology across the entire value chain to provide full process technical support for the Naos-1 project, from design, manufacturing to operation and maintenance.

The core supply scope covers the complete set of equipment for 660MWh battery energy storage system. More noteworthy is that Far East Energy has also signed a 25 year long-term service agreement with SOLA Group to ensure the continuous operation and maintenance of the project after it is put into operation. This long-term service model is not common in private energy projects, reflecting the high trust of owners in equipment reliability and supplier comprehensive capabilities.

John Lee, General Manager of Far East Energy Asia Africa Market, said, "Naos-1 confirms that the integrated solution of renewable energy and energy storage can reshape the future energy system, not only outputting clean electricity, but also scaling up the reliability, flexibility, and economic value of power supply. Far East Energy is honored to participate in this benchmark project and work together with industry leaders to accelerate the sustainable energy transition in South Africa and emerging markets. "

The 'New Path' of Private Energy Procurement

The South African electricity market has long been dominated by state-owned utility companies, but in recent years, power shortages and grid instability have occurred frequently, prompting private enterprises to actively seek their own clean power sources.

Ian Burger, Managing Director of SOLA Build, a subsidiary of SOLA Group, said: "Naos-1 represents the new generation of energy infrastructure, with flexibility, scalability, and meeting the needs of modern electricity markets. By collaborating with high-quality technology partners such as Far East Energy, we are opening up new paths for private sector participation in energy construction, promoting the construction of a more resilient and adaptable energy system for future development. "

The benchmark significance of this project is that it proves that the integrated solution of "photovoltaic+energy storage" can fully rely on market-oriented financing to achieve commercial operation without government subsidies. The combination of 300MW photovoltaic and 660MWh energy storage has established a new reference frame for private renewable energy projects in South Africa and even throughout Africa. Editor/Yang Beihua