$20m Escom facility brings supply stability

By Pemphero Malimba: State-owned Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) on Friday commissioned its $20.24 million Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a development that is expected to culminate in stability in power supply. Installation of the 20 megawatts (mw) facility was funded by Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. The facility is aimed at improving grid stability and maximising the use of renewable energy sources. Using the facility, Escom will be storing excess electricity and releasing it when demand is high. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Energy Minister Jean Mathanga urged Escom to ensure efficiency. "We know that there are customers that applied to be connected to Escom power but have waited for a long time. I am calling for Escom to pull up their socks," she said. She also challenged Escom to ensure that the commissioned Battery Energy Storage System culminates in quality service delivered to customers. The battery system does not generate electricity; instead, it functions as a giant rechargeable battery that balances electricity supply and demand in real time. Apart from reducing pressure on the national grid and contributing towards reducing load shedding, the system is expected to improve power quality by minimising voltage fluctuations, thereby protecting sensitive equipment used by industries, hospitals, schools and businesses At the event, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and Escom signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at cementing their working relationship. Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet Africa Vice President Carol Koech said the organisation supported the intervention as part of global advocacy for ensuring that at least 300 million people have access to electricity across the world by 2030. Koech said apart from the BESS project, the organisation was supporting energy production interventions in various districts of the country such as Salima and Chikwawa. Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet Justin Saidi described the commissioning of the project as a blueprint of public service delivery in the country. "The government will continue to provide strategic oversight to ensure that investment like this [BESS project] contributes to long term energy transformation in the country. You have full support of the President [Peter Mutharika] and his government," he said. Escom Board Director Welford Sabola said the project was one of the initiatives the electricity supplier was implementing to mitigate the problem of inadequate power supply in the country.

WIRE — By Pemphero Malimba: State-owned Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) on Friday commissioned its $20.24 million Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a development that is expected to culminate in stability in power supply. Installation of the 20 megawatts (mw) facility was funded by Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. The facility is aimed at improving grid stability and maximising the use of renewable energy sources. Using the facility, Escom will be storing excess electricity and releasing it when demand is high. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Energy Minister Jean Mathanga urged Escom to ensure efficiency. "We know that there are customers that applied to be connected to Escom power but have waited for a long time. I am calling for Escom to pull up their socks," she said. She also challenged Escom to ensure that the commissioned Battery Energy Storage System culminates in quality service delivered to customers. The battery system does not generate electricity; instead, it functions as a giant rechargeable battery that balances electricity supply and demand in real time. Apart from reducing pressure on the national grid and contributing towards reducing load shedding, the system is expected to improve power quality by minimising voltage fluctuations, thereby protecting sensitive equipment used by industries, hospitals, schools and businesses At the event, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and Escom signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at cementing their working relationship. Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet Africa Vice President Carol Koech said the organisation supported the intervention as part of global advocacy for ensuring that at least 300 million people have access to electricity across the world by 2030. Koech said apart from the BESS project, the organisation was supporting energy production interventions in various districts of the country such as Salima and Chikwawa. Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet Justin Saidi described the commissioning of the project as a blueprint of public service delivery in the country. "The government will continue to provide strategic oversight to ensure that investment like this [BESS project] contributes to long term energy transformation in the country. You have full support of the President [Peter Mutharika] and his government," he said. Escom Board Director Welford Sabola said the project was one of the initiatives the electricity supplier was implementing to mitigate the problem of inadequate power supply in the country.

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