The Western Cape Energy Council has a new plan to assist municipalities reeling from load shedding.<\/p>\n
Alan Winde, the premier of the province, said that the Western Cape Government (WCG) is looking to install containerised solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and battery storage across the province.<\/p>\n
“Our aim with this project is to pilot how we can speedily install containerised solar PV cells with battery storage in these municipalities, which would stop load shedding in these towns.”<\/p>\n
“We would like to see this these projects launched as soon as possible,” said Winde.<\/p>\n
Containerised solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and battery storage systems combine solar panels and energy storage units within a portable shipping container.<\/p>\n
The solar panels are placed on the roof of the shipping container, and batteries are stored within it – offering mobility, easy installation and are scalable.<\/p>\n
The deployment of these systems forms part of the province’s overarching Western Cape Energy Resilience Programme to end blackouts and – along with other initiatives – position the province as the ‘hub for energy resilience’.<\/p>\n
According to Winde, the Western Cape plans to be the first province to ‘beat load shedding’.<\/p>\n
For municipalities wishing to take part in this initiative, Winde said that they must meet specific criteria, including having the right technical capabilities to embark on the programme.<\/p>\n
Anton Bredell, the environmental affairs and development planning minister of the provincial and local government, said that each town has its unique issues associated with load shedding.<\/p>\n
Bredell added that the WCG would provide technical and project management support to municipalities in need.<\/p>\n
On top of efforts to roll out containerised solar and battery storage units, the WCG is working with five other municipalities through funding energy studies and enabling private sector power projects.<\/p>\n
Mireille Wenger, the province’s minister of finance and economic opportunities, said it is working hard to ensure a coherent and predictable energy policy environment that would enable municipalities to embark on their own power plans.<\/p>\n
“We are doing our homework to be prepared and plan for new sources of energy in a responsible way.”<\/p>\n
“The fact is that we must get things like wheeling frameworks \u2013 how to move power from one part of the grid to another, and cost of supply studies as well as Electricity Master Plans in place as they form the very foundation upon which bringing more energy onto the grid, relies,” Wenger said.<\/p>\n
The Western Cape has been leading the charge on the push toward becoming energy independent.<\/p>\n
Other initiatives to mitigate load shedding in the area include, among others:<\/p>\n