In October 2021, WSP began its role as Technical Advisor for Eskom’s distributed, grid‑connected Battery Energy Storage Solutions (BESS) Phase 1 project — an 800MWh initiative across eight sites in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu‑Natal.

This landmark development is Eskom’s first BESS project to be owned, operated, and maintained by Eskom itself, representing a R7.5 billion investment in South Africa’s energy future. Skaapvlei, one of the flagship sites, ranks among the top five largest BESS facilities in the country.

WSP’s responsibilities span engineering design and specifications, tender preparation and evaluation, procurement support, project management, construction supervision, commissioning services, and capacity‑building through training.
 

A historic step toward energy resilience

South Africa’s power system has long faced challenges of demand, reliability, and integration of renewables. The BESS project represents a landmark step in stabilising the grid, reducing loadshedding, and enabling renewable integration.

From Skaapvlei in the Western Cape to Rietfontein in the Northern Cape, these facilities provide energy support, ancillary services, and congestion relief - directly improving reliability for households and businesses.

Our extensive international experience and successful history when it comes to BESS deployments and applications made WSP the logical partner for Eskom. As part of this, we have assisted Eskom in maintaining a complete set of project documents and drawings throughout the construction, start‑up, testing, and initial operation of the project. We have also reviewed the project’s design, perform project management, and site management services on behalf of Eskom during the construction phase.

Engineering oversight with purpose

WSP’s first task was to evaluate tenders for multiple packages, participate in contract negotiations, and prepare specifications for later phases. With four awarded packages running concurrently, the team managed diverse international contractors, local subcontractors, and site‑specific challenges - from environmental conditions to location logistics.

Acting as Owner’s Engineer, WSP, supervised construction and commissioning, and resolved technical issues. Our role included verifying start‑up, commissioning, performance, and dependable capacity testing — ensuring each facility met Eskom’s standards for reliability and resilience.
 

Building knowledge and capacity

Beyond engineering, WSP delivered formal BESS training to more than 300 participants, combining online and classroom sessions. On‑the‑job training was provided through resident engineers during construction and commissioning, strengthening Eskom’s internal expertise and building national capacity for future energy projects.
 

Community impact

The BESS project is not only about stabilising the grid - it’s about empowering communities. Local SMMEs were encouraged to participate in construction, creating opportunities for small businesses.

Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives included street lighting, school uniforms, sports equipment, painting schools, and providing computers to learners. These contributions ensure that communities benefit directly from South Africa’s energy transition, echoing WSP’s commitment to engineering with purpose.
 

A sustainable energy milestone

Battery energy storage is more than an engineering achievement - it’s a catalyst for change. By enabling renewable integration, reducing emissions, and stabilising supply, the Eskom BESS project is helping communities thrive with cleaner, more reliable energy.
 
 

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Location

  • South Africa

Client

  • Eskom

Project Status

  • Under construction

Awards

  • 2025 CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Award in the Mega Projects (Greater than R1 billion)

Meet the Visioneer

Dinesh is a professional engineer with over 11 years’ experience in the power sector. He has worked primarily in the field of transmission, distribution and renewable energy engineering and has extensive experience in substations, high voltage lines and cables, substation automation and switchgear, including high level and detailed design, construction and commissioning.