Cape Town to build solar PV plant
The city aims to protect itself from Eskom’s load shedding by building a 60 MW power plant by 2026.
Image for illustration purposes.
Republic of South Africa, Cape Town: The city aims to protect itself from Eskom’s load shedding by building a 60 MW power plant by 2026.
In March 2022, the City of Cape Town announced plans to design, build and run a 60 MW solar PV plant in Paardevlei, outside Somerset West. The plant will cost about $66.1 M (about R1.2 B) and will have battery storage capacity to shield the city against a full stage of load-shedding.
The city plans to finish the plant feasibility study by the end of 2023, begin construction in 2025, and commission the power plant by mid-2026.
“This project is another critical step in our journey away from Eskom reliance and towards a load-shedding-free Cape Town,” stated Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. The mayor also stated that the challenges related to energy supply provide the city with the opportunity to build a green economy.
Cape Town has set a 2030 target of satisfying 35 % of its energy needs from clean energy sources. The city requires approx. 500 MW to cover the supply gap and protect its citizens from load shedding effects.
Source : Energy&Utilities