Sterling & Wilson to build Africa’s ‘largest’ battery storage project beside solar-diesel microgrid

May 31, 2018
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Indian EPC firm Sterling and Wilson has won its first large-scale hybrid and energy storage turnkey EPC contract order in Western Africa, including what it believes to be both the largest battery storage project and single battery installation in the whole continent.

The scope of work – the company’s formal entry into the hybrid and energy storage space – includes design, EPC and O&M of a captive hybrid microgrid powered by solar, diesel and battery storage.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

In a release, Sterling and Wilson said this would be a “first of its kind” project powering behind-the-meter clients in the educational sector in Western Africa with 30MWh of battery energy storage spread across three sites, including a single battery installation of 17MWh.

The microgrid backed with batteries will be able to provide one-day power autonomy to the educational institutions, helping them to run efficiently and to spend more on school programs.

Deepak Thakur, CEO, hybrid and energy storage, Sterling and Wilson, said: “Lack of power supply is a primary barrier in imparting effective learning and development of any nation. We are extremely glad to have bagged our landmark first project in the hybrid and energy storage space, which not only consists of the largest battery installation in Africa to date but also hopefully proves to be a marquee installation empowering future generations. We are confident of meeting the most stringent quality, safety and financial needs of our client given our combined global expertise of having delivered over 7GW of solar, diesel and gas-based power plants on a turnkey basis to date.”

Having recently announced its major foray in hybrid energy storage solutions, Sterling and Wilson’s newly-formed business unit is actively pursuing further such opportunities across Europe, the Middle-East, Africa, Asia and Australia as well as the US.

The company declined to comment on which specific country the African project will be located. However, in an exclusive interview with PV Tech's sister site Energy-Storage.News, Vish Iyer, global head of business development, strategy and marketing for the hybrid and energy storage division at Sterling and Wilson, has provided more details of the win.

Read Next

May 6, 2026
Scatec has established an equity partnership with the National Bank of Egypt for its Obelisk 1.1GW solar and 100MW/200MWh BESS project.
April 29, 2026
Chinese solar manufacturering giant JinkoSolar has signed two solar module supply agreements totalling 600MW in Nigeria. 
April 22, 2026
Work has begun on the 500MW Maun solar-plus-storage project in Botswana, which will be a cornerstone of the country's plan to reach 1.5GW of operational renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade.
April 13, 2026
Oman-based renewables firm Naqaa Sustainable Energy has been named as the lead developer of a 500MW PV plant in Botswana.
April 2, 2026
Pan-African developer Axian Energy has reached financial close on what it is billing as West Africa’s largest solar-plus-storage project.
March 17, 2026
The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) has started construction on the 305MW Noor Atlas solar PV portfolio.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
May 20, 2026
Porto, Portugal
Upcoming Webinars
May 27, 2026
9am BST / 10am CEST
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
June 3, 2026
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
August 25, 2026
São Paulo, Brazil