Chinese renewable energy technology company Sungrow has signed a major supply agreement with South African distributor Herholdt’s Group to deliver 1,155 MWh of commercial and industrial (C&I) battery energy storage systems across the country.

The phased rollout targets C&I customers seeking improved grid reliability and renewable integration, with deployment kicking off in 2026 to address persistent power constraints. Sungrow’s liquid-cooled systems will support peak shaving, frequency regulation, and backup power for factories, data centres, and logistics operations.

The deal highlights growing demand for scalable storage in South Africa’s volatile market, where rolling blackouts have pushed businesses toward independent energy solutions. Sungrow, which has operated in the region for nine years, positions the contract as validation of its tailored BESS platforms for African conditions.

Herholdt’s Group, Sungrow’s exclusive local partner, will handle logistics, installation, and commissioning across multiple sites. The systems leverage Sungrow’s Power Conversion System (PCS) technology, achieving over 95% round-trip efficiency even at high loads.

With South Africa’s Just Energy Transition gaining momentum, large-scale BESS deployments like this signal a shift from diesel generators toward utility-scale renewables-plus-storage. Sungrow claims to have shipped over 1,000 GW of PV and storage equipment globally by the end of 2025, maintaining its BloombergNEF ranking as the most bankable supplier.

The project arrives as Eskom accelerates its Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) procurement, creating a complementary market for private C&I investment.

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