Construction of a 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with a 10 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) has officially begun in Riversdale, Western Cape, marking an important step towards the municipality’s energy independence. The project, part of the province’s Energy Resilience Programme, is expected to shield the Hessequa Local Municipality from rising Eskom tariffs and reduce reliance on the national grid.

This is according to Western Cape Premier Alan Winde who participated in the official sod-turning ceremony for the multi-million-rand renewable energy project on Friday, January 24.

Among the highlights of the project:

• The solar PV plant is expected to generate 15 GWh annually
• The BESS will enable storage and strategic discharge to stabilise the local grid.
• Advanced monitoring and control systems will ensure real-time energy tracking and optimisation.

The installation is designed to support municipal operations and critical infrastructure, offering grid resilience in the face of Eskom’s proposed 44% increase in electricity sales to municipalities, Winde said. “While I join millions of Western Cape residents in welcoming the over 300-day respite from load shedding, we must not allow ourselves to be lulled into a false sense of energy security. Now more than ever, we must use this opportunity to keep enabling municipalities in our province to explore and invest in alternative energy solutions with added focus on making power more affordable and environmentally friendly.”

Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Maré praised the collaboration between the Western Cape government and Hessequa Local Municipality: “I applaud the Western Cape government for its vision and proactive leadership in helping municipalities integrate renewable energy into their business model and Hessequa Municipality for playing a leading role in leveraging renewable energy for the benefit of all residents.”