Cape Town Completes Solar Project At Kraaifontein Wastewater Plant

Cape Town has successfully completed a 990kWp renewable energy project at the Kraaifontein Wastewater Treatment Plant, furthering its commitment to sustainable energy and climate change mitigation. The project, unveiled by Alderman Xanthea Limberg, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, and Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, aligns with the City’s broader solar PV initiative aimed at boosting energy security across residential, commercial, and municipal sectors.

The new solar system is part of the City’s innovative small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) programme, which also includes recent installations at the Goodwood Transport Management Centre (330kWp) and the Gugulethu Electricity Depot (125kWp). Together, these projects cost R20.6 million and are expected to save R2.4 million in electricity costs in the first year while contributing 1.5 GWh of clean energy annually.

Alderman Limberg highlighted the project’s role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and diversifying the energy mix. “This initiative not only supports South Africa’s commitment to international climate obligations but also strengthens our local energy infrastructure,” she said.

Looking ahead, Cape Town plans to invest over R4 billion in electricity grid upgrades and maintenance in the coming three years. The City aims to add up to one gigawatt of independent power supply to mitigate load-shedding and ensure a more reliable energy future by 2026.