The City of Cape Town is advancing practical and scalable energy solutions to define sustainable future. Member of the Mayoral Committee for Energy – Alderman Xanthea Limberg addressed Africa’s Green Economy Summit on February 25, 2026 and explained a detailed city plan.
Africa’s green transition and environmental sustainability will not be achieved through ambition alone. It requires practical collaboration, stronger partnerships and scaled investment to unlock the full potential of the green and blue economies of the continent.
Limberg further stated that through the investment in infrastructure development, it includes an allocation of more than R4 billion in grid infrastructure upgrades to support the growing renewable energy system, they are showcasing the commitment to development. The local energy strategy is being implemented through a deliberate, phased approach.
Cape Town is in the concluding stages of constructing South Africa’s first municipal-owned utility-scale ground-mounted solar PV plant in Atlantis. Commissioning of this milestone project is expected during this year and will immediately add nearly 10 megawatts of solar energy into the grid.
Limberg went on to mention several of the City’s projects, including:
- A larger solar PV plant in Paardevlei
- Cash-for-Power which transforms consumers into prosumers
- Wheeling and a clean energy open market procurement intention
Alderman Xanthea Limberg said that she is pleased to announce the intention to procure additional clean energy on the open market through a further two key programmes. The Waste-to-Energy and Energy Traders tenders, both have recently been publicly released for bidding.
She stated that working with the partners, they have secured technical assistance from various international institutions, including grant funding to developmental agenda and improve the systems. They are also looking to maintain and expand the existing infrastructure fleet, including investment in the life-extension of the Steenbras Pumped Storage facility which serves a strategic purpose for the City of Cape Town.
Limberg said that they must do more to organise themselves and further strengthen the institutions, invest in infrastructure, improve policy certainty and develop and share financial and technical expertise needed to unlock the immense potential. By working together across sectors and borders, they can mobilise the capital, expertise and innovation needed to drive meaningful progress and inclusive growth.