Energy Vault, South African utility Eskom partner on gravity-based LDES projects

Published: 2026-05-13 07:20:11 ET NRGV

Published on 05/13/2026 at 07:20 am EDT

Energy Vault Holdings Inc (NYSE:NRGV), a US-based energy storage company specialising in gravity-based long-duration energy storage systems, and Eskom Holdings SOC Limited, South Africa’s state-owned power utility, have signed a strategic development agreement to deploy gravity-based long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems in South Africa and across the Southern African region.

The agreement is aimed at supporting grid stability, renewable energy integration and electricity system resilience as South Africa accelerates efforts to modernise its power infrastructure and reduce reliance on coal-fired generation.

Energy Vault Holdings Inc develops gravity-based storage technology designed to store electricity by lifting and lowering heavy materials, providing long-duration energy storage that can complement intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

The company said the partnership with Eskom would focus on identifying and developing suitable projects in South Africa and potentially neighbouring Southern African markets where long-duration storage capacity is increasingly needed to support grid reliability and energy transition objectives.

The agreement comes as South Africa expands investment in battery storage, grid infrastructure and renewable generation following years of electricity shortages, ageing coal infrastructure and recurring load shedding (rolling blackouts).

Eskom has increasingly pursued partnerships with private-sector energy technology companies as part of broader reforms aimed at stabilising the national grid and improving generation flexibility.

Long-duration energy storage is viewed as a critical component of future power systems because it enables excess renewable electricity generated during periods of high supply to be stored and dispatched during peak demand or periods of low renewable output.

Southern Africa’s growing pipeline of solar, wind and hybrid energy projects has increased interest in utility-scale storage technologies capable of supporting cross-border electricity trade and regional grid balancing.