Cape Town unveils R220m metro-built solar and storage power plant

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has cut the ribbon on the city’s new hybrid power station – the Helderhoop Solar and Storage Power Plant in Atlantis.

While construction of the project has been wrapped up, the plant is still operating under controlled test conditions as part of the commissioning process.

“The key benefit of this new power plant is that the power it generates is much cheaper than Eskom – saving Cape Town residents at least R400-million over the coming 20 years,” Hill-Lewis noted at this week’s launch ceremony.

“Our firm intention is to reduce our reliance on Eskom’s expensive power and big annual increases, so that we can pass on these savings to Capetonians over time.”

The R220-million hybrid power facility has 12 850 solar panels and two utility-scale batteries, covering 15 ha, or roughly the area of 21 rugby fields.

The plant has an initial capacity of 7 MW, with the potential to scale up to 10 MW. The two batteries have a rated power output of 5 MW and a usable energy storage capacity of 8 MWh.

“With this new power plant…we are demonstrating that municipalities can play a leading role in building their own energy future and reducing dependence on Eskom’s expensive and unreliable electricity,” said Hill-Lewis.

The Helderhoop project comes in the wake of Cape Town becoming the first metro to buy power on the open market – at what it says are rates 20% cheaper than Eskom’s – as part of an initial 200 MW independent power procurement programme.

City of Cape Town Energy MMC Xanthea Limberg said around 305 jobs were created during the construction phase.

The Helderhoop plant was named by Atlantis matriculant Vinolio Cloete.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter