Media advisory

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in collaboration with the World Bank and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, is set to host the Energy Storage Partnership (ESP) stakeholder forum in Pretoria on Tuesday, 7 November 2023.

The ESP stakeholder forum will bring together private sector executives and delegates from World Bank client countries. Its primary goal is to encourage the exchange of knowledge regarding energy storage initiatives in developing nations and to showcase the most recent innovations in energy storage technologies.

The World Bank Energy Sector Management Assistance Program and the ESP Working Group seven have undertaken a significant initiative to formalise the circular economy of batteries. This effort aims to encourage the development of sustainable and more cost-effective energy storage solutions. The recycling of lithium-ion batteries presents substantial potential, not only in terms of sustainability but also for economic benefits. The CSIR has been at the forefront of advancing energy storage solutions, particularly through its development of the ESP Energy Storage Testbed, which is divided into two phases. Phase one encompasses the indoor Energy Storage Testbed, while phase two focuses on the outdoor testbed. An important milestone is the collaborative CSIR-VITO Battery Testbed Project, initiated in December 2020. This initiative received partial funding from the Government of Flanders, which was instrumental in establishing phase one, the indoor testbed.

Members of the media

Date: Tuesday, 7 November 2023
Time: 8:30am for registration
Venue: CSIR International Convention Centre

RSVP: Media Relations Practitioner, Phetolo Phatsibi: PPhatsibi@csir.co.za

For media enquiries, contact:

David Mandaha, CSIR Media Relations Manager
Tel: 012 841 3654
Mobile: 072 126 8910
Email: dmandaha@csir.co.za    

About the CSIR:

The CSIR, an entity of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, as well as industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. For more information, visit www.csir.co.za.

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @CSIR. Facebook: CSIRSouthAfrica. Instagram: CSIRSouthAfrica. LinkedIn: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). YouTube: CSIRNewMedia

About the Energy Storage Partnership (ESP):

To enable the rapid uptake of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) in developing countries, the World Bank Group convened the Energy Storage Partnership (ESP)¸ a global initiative involving national laboratories, research institutions, development agencies, and philanthropies. The ESP aims to foster international technological cooperation and training to develop and adapt to new energy storage solutions tailored to the needs and conditions of developing countries. The ESP is hosted at the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP).

Follow ESP on social media:

LinkedIn: Energy Storage Partnership (ESP); Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). Twitter: @WBG_Energy