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BIG LEAP Highlights the Role of Innovative Storage Solutions at the Southern Africa Executive School

13Feb

BIG LEAP Highlights the Role of Innovative Storage Solutions at the Southern Africa Executive School

News

The BIG LEAP project was represented in Pretoria, South Africa through the participation of RES4Africa Foundation, a partner in the consortium, at the Southern Africa Executive School, held from 21 to 25 July 2025 at the Future Africa Campus of the University of Pretoria. The pilot edition gathered professionals from across Southern Africa to strengthen technical and regulatory capacities in support of a just and sustainable energy transition.

Organised by RES4Africa in collaboration with the University of Pretoria, EWSETA and Africa GreenCo, and sustained by Enel Foundation, the programme offered two parallel training tracks focused on electricity sector regulation, finance, renewable energy integration and grid management. Participants also took part in field visits to Eskom’s control centre and CSIR’s energy infrastructure facilities, gaining direct exposure to the region’s evolving power systems.

For BIG LEAP, the Executive School provided a valuable opportunity to engage with stakeholders working on renewable integration, system flexibility and emerging storage areas where second‑life battery solutions can offer significant benefits. Through RES4Africa’s participation, the project was present in discussions addressing the challenges of scaling clean energy, improving grid reliability and enabling new storage‑based services in rapidly changing energy markets.

The event also highlighted the growing interest in innovative and cost‑effective storage approaches across Southern Africa, where the combination of increasing renewable penetration and grid constraints is creating demand for flexible solutions. BIG LEAP’s focus on advancing second‑life battery systems aligns closely with these regional priorities, reinforcing the project’s relevance in supporting sustainable and affordable energy transitions.

By contributing to this capacity‑building initiative, RES4Africa strengthened BIG LEAP’s visibility within the Southern African energy ecosystem and supported the project’s mission to accelerate the deployment of innovative battery solutions that can enhance system resilience and enable new pathways for clean energy adoption.

 

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