The Energy Research Centre – NUL continues to connect Lesotho with international knowledge and experience as the global energy sector moves towards cleaner, more reliable and more sustainable energy systems.
From 1–4 September 2026, Mr. Moruti Clement Kao represented the Energy Research Centre – NUL and Lesotho at the 2026 Energy Storage System Workshop and Learning Visit in Jeju, Republic of Korea. The programme brought together approximately 30 participants from developing countries to exchange knowledge and explore opportunities around energy storage and other low-carbon technologies.
What does energy storage mean for Lesotho?
For many people, energy storage may sound like a highly technical concept. In simple terms, it is about keeping electricity available for when it is needed.
For example, solar panels generate electricity when the sun is shining. Battery storage can store some of that electricity so that it can be used later. This can help households, businesses and communities make better use of renewable energy and can contribute to more reliable electricity systems.
Energy storage can also support microgrids, which can provide electricity to communities and other areas that may not be fully served by the conventional electricity grid.
Learning from practical experience
The four-day programme combined discussions and practical learning. Participants explored renewable-energy-powered microgrids, battery storage and the integration of energy storage with electricity grids.
The programme also included visits to the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) Jeju Global Research Center and the Bukchon Battery Energy Storage System Power Plant, providing participants with an opportunity to see how energy storage technologies are being applied in practice.
Beyond the technology itself, the programme examined the wider conditions needed for clean-energy solutions to succeed.
One of the important questions explored was:
How do we move from promising clean-energy ideas to projects that can actually be financed, implemented and sustained?
Discussions therefore included areas such as climate finance, technical assistance, capacity building and national innovation systems.
Why the experience matters for Lesotho
The lessons from the programme are relevant as Lesotho continues to expand renewable energy and considers the growing role of battery storage, microgrids and more resilient electricity systems.
Energy storage has the potential to help address some of the challenges associated with renewable energy by allowing electricity generated at one time to be used at another. This can become increasingly important as countries seek to increase the contribution of renewable energy within their electricity systems.
For Lesotho, learning from countries and institutions that are already developing and applying these technologies can help strengthen local understanding of what is technically possible, while also drawing attention to the policy, financing, skills and institutional requirements needed to make such solutions work.
Bringing global knowledge home
For the Energy Research Centre – NUL, international learning is about more than gaining exposure to developments taking place elsewhere. It is about bringing knowledge, experience and networks home and considering how they can contribute to local energy solutions.
Participation in programmes such as the 2026 Energy Storage System Workshop and Learning Visit creates opportunities for ERC to engage with international experts, learn from practical experiences and contribute Lesotho’s perspective to global discussions on the energy transition.
As Lesotho continues to explore its renewable energy potential, knowledge of technologies such as battery storage and microgrids will become increasingly valuable in considering how to build a cleaner, more reliable and more resilient energy future.
