RE: CRUX interview November 20203 Jan 2021 18:03
Do you think this was a political move to have someone experienced enough to demonstrate the tender requirements for the large battery in package one.
Doubt there will be many bidding battery suppliers who have worked on a 320MWh energy storage project but RKP can say they have a 800MWh one and also have their technology on display at Eskom Rosherville unlike other bidders trying their luck. (I know UET is a subsidiary of RKP but I suppose using the parent brand will have more pull behind the scenes. BYD is also there but lithium so cannot see the local content).
For BMN offering the vanadium alone will surpass the 20% local content and having their RKP's electrolyte supplier makes life easier without their own electrolyte plant at this stage.
I don't think Enerox or Invinity were planned for this tender but once they get their foot into their first large scale battery, they can demonstrate to the world what they are capable of. This then accelerates electrolyte plant commissioning, plant expansion and local assembly if the SA government allows VRFBs to thrive.
These are all opinions and I could be way out.