Cape Town opens grid to private energy trading
Following a successful pilot, the city rolls out full-scale electricity wheeling, opening the door to diverse energy sources.
Image for illustration purposes
South Africa, Cape Town: Cape Town has officially opened its electricity grid to private energy trading following the successful completion of a year-long pilot project. The initiative, known as electricity wheeling, enables businesses to buy power directly from independent producers or licensed energy traders using the city’s existing municipal infrastructure.
The pilot project facilitated the transfer of over 562,800 kWh of electricity and marked a major step towards diversifying Cape Town’s energy sources beyond Eskom and decentralising electricity trading in South Africa.
“The city will promote the scaling up of power trading across our electricity grid between qualifying private sellers, based on bilateral and multi-lateral trading agreements,” said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
During the pilot phase, three energy companies successfully generated and transferred electricity using multiple sources. These were Enpower Trading, Etana Energy, and Equites Property Fund Limited.
Irshaad Wadvalla, head of sustainability at Equites Property Fund, described the project as a culmination of nearly three years of engagement with the city’s energy team, enabling green energy transfer and advancing sustainability goals.
Etana Energy CEO Evan Rice stressed the importance of this milestone in unlocking private investment in energy generation.
James Beatty, CEO of Enpower Trading, reiterated the significance of the project in supporting Cape Town’s energy transition.
Source: Moneyweb
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