The City Energy Directorate’s Commitment to Reliable Energy Supply

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The City of Cape Town’s Energy Directorate demonstrates its commitment to providing a reliable energy supply and ending load-shedding through its significant capital budget spend of R1 billion in the last financial year (2022/23). This investment showcases the city’s capacity to invest in dependable services for a growing population.

Reducing Dependence on Eskom

The changing energy environment presents a great opportunity for well-run municipalities like Cape Town to reduce their dependence on Eskom for power. Through significant capital budget spend, the city administration aims to establish the groundwork for ending load-shedding over time.

Large Capital Projects

The City of Cape Town has invested in several large capital projects to ensure a reliable energy supply. These projects include the following:

Future Plans

The city has allocated approximately R1 billion for the refurbishment and extension of the Steenbras Hydro Pumped Storage Scheme, with an additional R200 million earmarked for the maintenance of Steenbras over the next nine years, subject to due process.

Cape Town aims to add up to one gigawatt of independent power supply to end load-shedding in the city over time. The ambitious plan includes adding the first 650MW within five years, sufficient to protect against four Eskom load-shedding stages by 2026.

Energy Supply Mix

The energy supply mix could incorporate various sources, including the following:

  1. Embedded Independent Power Producers (IPPs) Renewable Energy (200MW)
  2. Dispatchable Energy (up to 500MW)
  3. Wheeling (up to 350MW)
  4. Private Small-Scale Embedded Generation (up to 100MW)
  5. City-Owned Small-Scale Embedded Generation (up to 20MW)

Cape Town’s Energy Directorate’s remarkable capital budget spend sends a message about its commitment to ending load-shedding and investing in a reliable, diversified energy supply. This investment benefits both residents and businesses, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for the city. The combination of various energy sources, including renewable energy and innovative solutions like wheeling, demonstrates Cape Town’s readiness to adapt to the changing energy landscape and to spearhead the transition towards a cleaner and more resilient energy system.

A Russian-Spanish journalist and Cape Town native, channels his lifelong passion for South Africa into captivating stories for his local blog. With a diverse background and 50 years of rich experiences, Serjio's unique voice resonates with readers seeking to explore Cape Town's vibrant culture. His love for the city shines through in every piece, making Serjio the go-to source for the latest in South African adventures.

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