George Municipality Advances Renewable Energy Projects to Enhance Energy Resilience
In the photo is the Civic Centre 300 kWp system which has been operational since September 2021
The George Municipality continues to pursue its vision to enhance energy resilience and reduce electricity demand through renewable energy initiatives. The primary goal of these projects is to meet some of the municipality’s energy requirements, thereby decreasing dependence on Eskom. According to the deputy director for Planning and Design in the George Municipality’s Electrotechnical Services, Daniel Greeff, this reduction in electricity purchases from Eskom will lower the municipality’s electricity bill, with the savings ultimately benefiting customers.
Completed Projects:
• Civic Centre: 300 kWp system, operational since September 2021.
• Outeniqua Wastewater Treatment Facility: 400-kilowatt peak (kWp) photovoltaic (PV) system.
• Gwaing Wastewater Treatment Facility: 500 kWp PV system.
• Municipal Land (ERF464): 1 megawatt peak (MWp) solar farm.
Ongoing Renewable Energy Projects:
• Tourism Site: Completed, with some equipment changes necessitated by a fire.
• Battery Storage System: 3 megawatt-hours (MWh) battery storage system spread across three sites (Civic Centre building, Outeniqua, and Gwaing wastewater treatment works), construction is expected to begin in September 2024.
Cancellation of Tender for 12 MW PV with 66kV Substation Grid Connection
The tender for the construction of the 12 MW PV Plant with the 66kV substation Grid connection was cancelled. According to Mr Riaan du Plessis, the Chief Financial Officer of the George Municipality, the bids received in response to the tender process far exceeded the available budget. “In terms of the Local Government Municipal Finance Management Act, 56 of 2003 (MFMA), a municipality may incur expenditure only in terms of an approved budget. Therefore, there was no alternative but to cancel the tender,” du Plessis said.
Future Plans and Initiatives
George Municipality intends to continue exploring alternative electricity supply solutions such as Small-Scale Embedded Energy Generation (SSEG) and Wheeling agreements. The municipality will also focus on procuring electricity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
George Municipality will work in collaboration with the Western Cape Premier’s office relating to the appointment of IPP’s, which is already coordinating similar solutions in the province. IPPs will create an effective competitive market space for ESKOM, moving away from the current monopoly. This is seen as the economic solution to the current energy crisis in South Africa, and George Municipality will support the Western Cape government in leading the necessary changes for a stable electricity supply future.
The municipality remains committed to finding sustainable solutions to the current electricity crisis, contributing to both local and national energy resilience.