Cape Town's Action Plan for Energy and Climate Change
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Cape Town’s Action Plan for Energy and Climate Change
01
‘Facing an uncertain climate future, Cape Town aims to be a low-carbon
city – a city that is resilient, adapting well and always acting for the
common good, with social justice as our guiding principle.’
– City of Cape Town Executive Mayor
Contents Overview
The energy and climate action plan
03
04
The objectives 05
Message from the Mayor 07
Cape Town’s energy, past and present 08
An optimum energy future for Cape Town 12
Action plan objectives, programmes and projects 16
Resources and partners 42
A member of List of city of Cape Town energy and climate change programmes and projects 44
Abbreviations 50
References 51
Acknowledgements 52
In partnership with
Published by: City of Cape Town. First edition November 2011. ISBN 978-0-9802784-9-1
02 03
Overview
Cape Town faces a number of challenges: a high carbon footprint compared to other similar cities, poor
energy security, rapid urbanisation and associated energy poverty, urban sprawl and vulnerability to the
impacts of climate change.
As early as 2001 the City of Cape Town city’ was established as one of eight commitments operational, demonstrates
adopted an Integrated Metropolitan strategic focus areas of the City’s five-year its leadership role, and forms the basis on
Environmental Policy. Known as IMEP, the plan (the Integrated Development Plan, which to prioritise, budget for, implement,
Policy identified the need for an active shift or IDP). This led to the establishment, in and monitor and evaluate the City’s energy
from business-as-usual to a driven and 2008, of an Energy Committee that reports and climate change programme.
targeted sustainability agenda. Specifically, directly to the Executive Mayor.
IMEP noted that only an integrated Cape Town’s Energy and Climate Action
approach would enable positive change In 2009 the City established an Executive Plan has 11 objectives, with targets and
within this complex arena and that the City Management Team Subcommittee on detailed implementation plans involving
would need to increase its commitment to Energy and Climate Change, along with 40 programmes and more than 120
resource conservation and efficiencies. three workstreams established the following projects. The Action Plan is managed and
year. In May 2010 a full Council voted to co-ordinated by the City’s Energy and
In 2003 the City’s State of Energy report approve the Energy and Climate Action Climate Change Unit, across all directorates
provided a profile of energy supply and Plan. This Action Plan makes the City’s and departments.
use, and in 2006 the Energy and Climate
Change Strategy set out the vision,
objectives, targets and measures for all
city energy activities.
As part of its increasing commitment
to implementation, the City has made
important – and at times difficult –
institutional changes to help ensure
ownership, accountability, proper resourcing
and alignment with institutional and
individual performance management. As
a result, in 2007, ‘Energy for a sustainable
Population: Unemployment: GDP for Cape Town: Carbon footprint: Natural Environment:
3.8 21 % R200 7.8
Natural environment: The Cape Floral Kingdom is a true
global hotspot of biodiversity, being the smallest and richest
on earth, while having the highest number of threatened
plant species in the world of any city. Cape Town lies within
million billion tonnes per person the Cape Floristic Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
(1 million households) (including waste, marine and aviation
emissions) per annum
04 05
The energy and climate action plan The objectives
The Action Plan has not remained at The Action Plan is geared toward of resources, monitoring and evaluation of Energy and climate action plan objectives
strategic and executive level alone. Its implementation and actions are prioritised progress, and identification of priorities and
objectives are incorporated in service according to a set of criteria (such as low- gaps.
delivery implementation plans, corporate
dashboards and scorecards, and the City’s
carbon, economic development, poverty
alleviation and resilience). The Action Plan Planning and implementing the Action
Objective 01 Citywide: 10% reduction in electricity consumption by 2012,
off a ‘business-as-usual’ baseline
risk register. Formal workstream structures is a living document: it establishes a clear Plan’s energy-related programmes and
led by executive management cut across programme of action, while at the same projects are further informed by the Energy
Objective 02 Council (local authority) operations: 10% reduction in energy
consumption by 2012
functional ‘silos’ to ensure performance. time reflecting ongoing developments. It Scenarios for Cape Town Study, which
also contains information to assist allocation provides a foundation for effective decision-
making.
Objective 03 10% renewable and cleaner energy supply by 2020. Meet growth in
electricity demand with cleaner/renewable supply, among other sources
Objective 04 Build a more compact, resource-efficient city
Vision and prioritisation criteria
Criteria 2 Objective 05 Develop a more sustainable transport system
Energy Efficiency
Criteria 1
Low Carbon
Renewable Energy Objective 06 Adapt to and build resilience to climate change
Public Transport
GOAL Compact City Objective 07 Improve the resilience of vulnerable communities
Energy Security
Economic
Development
Local Energy Business Development
Job Creation
Objective 08 Enable local economic development in the energy sector
Poverty Improved Health/Quality of Life Objective 09 Access climate finance
Alleviation Better Access to Urban Goods
Lower Risk
Objective 10 Raise awareness and promote behaviour change through
communication and education
Resilient City
Localisation Objective 11 Recruit staff; undertake research and development; establish data management
systems; conduct monitoring and evaluation; update plan annually
Member of
Sustainable Integrated Executive
Energy and Integrated State of Energy Framework Energy and Development Energy and Management Team Energy
Environment Metropolitan report and draft for Climate Change State plan – Strategic Climate Subcommittee and State Energy Climate
Development Environmental Energy and Adaptation Strategy of focus area Change on Energy and Climate of Scenarios Adaptation
(SEED) Policy Climate Change to Climate approved by Energy Energy for a Committee Climate Change Action Energy for Cape Plan – in
Programme (IMEP) Strategy Change Council report sustainable city (political) (administrative) Plan report Town study preparation
1998 2001 2003 2006 2006 2007 2008 2008 2009 2010 2011 2011 2011
06 07
Message from the Mayor
Dear Friends
This document, the City of Cape Town’s more than 120 projects. The Action Plan reconstruct and reconnect a city that has
Action Plan for Energy and Climate Change, addresses issues that at first glance may been divided for many decades, and make a
is our acknowledgement of where we are, seem unrelated, from the quality of the more liveable, lower carbon city for all.
and our plan to secure our city’s future in a City’s housing stock, our traffic lights and
new, necessarily low-carbon world. We have our weather, to the city’s sprawl, our coastal Last year the Deputy Mayor joined mayors
called this publication Moving Mountains, zone, its economic base, and learning from 138 cities around the world in Mexico
not only because it is a catchy name that activities at local schools. These all add up City to sign the Global Cities Covenant
calls to mind our world-famous landmark, to Cape Town’s unique challenges, and our on Climate (Mexico City Climate Pact)
but also because it calls us to remember equally unique opportunities to address assuming the challenge to fight global
who we are. For some, to move a mountain these. warming at the local level. The City showed
is to attempt the impossible; there are surely its commitment by being the first city in
those who think that reducing our carbon Already we have seen significant successes. Africa to register its carbon inventory; and
footprint and acting on climate change is For example, our Electricity Saving the City has affirmed this commitment by
impossible. But we in Cape Town are people Campaign has seen a marked reduction in updating this report.
who believe in positive change, who have consumption in households and businesses;
the courage to make the difficult decisions the year-round Youth Environmental We believe that a city that pays attention
that get us where we want to be. We want Schools (YES) Programme reaches about to the source of its power, its energy, food
to be a city that is resilient and always 50 000 learners a year; the commercial and livelihoods, a connected, integrated city
acting for the common good, with social Energy Efficiency Forum attracts more than of neighbourhoods and communities, is the
justice as our guiding principle. And we 150 businesses to each meeting; we have kind of city of which we all dream. Only the
don’t believe that is impossible. retrofitted four of our buildings this past courageous pursuit of low-carbon living will
year, and done dozens of street and traffic get us there.
For this reason, in 2010 the City adopted lights.
the Energy and Climate Action Plan with
its 11 objectives which include resource And in late October 2011, Cape Town won
efficiency, sustainable transport, adaptation, its bid to be known as World Design Capital
climate finance and improved monitoring 2014. We won this bid not because Cape
and evaluation. Detailed implementation Town is naturally beautiful, fashionable or Executive Mayor of Cape Town,
plans involve 40 programme areas and ‘cool’, but because we are using design to Alderman Patricia De Lille
08 09
Cape Town’s Energy supply
Cape Town’s energy supply is dominated by is 2 400 MW, 6% of a total installed
Energy consumption
Transport accounts for approximately half of
energy, past
electricity provided from the national grid, national grid capacity of 40 000 MW. energy consumption in Cape Town, while
liquid fuels (mainly petrol and diesel, refined the residential, commercial and industrial
locally from imported crude oil), and a small South Africa intends to invest heavily in sectors roughly share the other half of
amount of coal used by industry. Coal-fired new electricity generation capacity, with the demand. Almost all transport energy is
electricity provides 85% of electricity fed aim to have 10% of national grid electricity supplied by petrol (gasoline) (60%), diesel
and present
into the grid, which means that the average generated by renewable energy sources (39%) and aviation liquid fuels. Residential
carbon emissions attributed to electricity by 2030 (compared to less than 2% at and commercial energy is supplied by
supplied to Cape Town are high – around present). electricity (at least 90%), and the industrial
1 tonne of carbon dioxide (or equivalent) sector uses a diverse supply of energy
per MWh of electricity. These coal-fired There is considerable potential around sources. Although 95% of households
power stations are 2 000 km from the city, Cape Town for wind, concentrated are connected to grid electricity, paraffin
which results in significant losses en-route. solar and solar photo-voltaic electricity is still used by poor households (including
The 1 800 MW Koeberg nuclear power generation. These renewable energy electrified households), and is associated
station, just outside Cape Town is also part technologies are made more attractive by with fires, poisoning and poor indoor air
of the national mix. To supply peak demand the increasing costs of new coal plants, quality.
and for emergencies, Cape Town uses two the decreasing cost of wind and solar, the
open cycle gas turbines (1 327 MW and likelihood of significant cost reductions in
171 MW) and a pumped-storage station solar photo-voltaic energy, and the need to
(400 MW). Cape Town’s electricity demand decrease carbon emissions.
South Africa intends to invest heavily in new electricity
generation capacity, with 10% of national grid electricity
being generated by renewable energy sources by 2030
(compared to less than 2% at present).
Cape Town energy consumption by fuel source, 2007 Cape Town energy consumption by sector, 2007
Electricity 39%
Petrol 30%
Diesel 22%
Coal 3%
HFO 3% Transport 50%
Paraffin 2% Residential 18%
LPG 1% Commercial 16%
Jet Fuel 0% Industrial 14%
Wood 0% Government 1%
Source: Cape Town 2011, State of Energy and Energy Futures Report Source: Cape Town 2011, State of Energy and Energy Futures Report
10 11
Carbon emissions Electricity prices Liquid fuel prices
Electricity consumption accounts for Energy, carbon 2007 figures Due to cheap coal, South African electricity this does have a negative impact on Liquid fuel prices have increased drama-
64% of carbon emissions, most of which (conversion factors as per IPCC) prices have historically been among the households and economic activities, it tically over the past five years. This has
are attributable to the residential and Energy Giga-joules CO2 tonnes lowest in the world, with little attention also offers an opportunity to explore local significant implications for Cape Town’s
commercial sectors (which account for 83% source (GJ) being paid to energy efficiency and production of energy from renewable road-based transport system, where average
of electricity consumption). Electricity 48 576 102 14 844 856 conservation. However, a supply crisis resources, and invest in energy efficiency commuting distances are greater than
Paraffin 2 830 399 202 939 engendered by poor planning has led to rather than expand supply. These options 25 km. We can no longer ignore the
Cape Town’s energy supply, consumption LPG* 1 750 168 110 260 high tariff increases since 2006. These are likely to lead to significant co-benefits, likelihood of greenhouse gas emissions
and carbon emissions profile differs tariffs are required to fund a massive new such as cheaper energy services, reduced constraints playing a role in the medium-
Coal 3 055 991 288 485
significantly from the rest of South Africa’s. electricity generation programme which will environmental damage, local economic and long-term future of
Petrol 39 392 694 2 725 974
Industry and mining account for 55% of increase generation capacity from around development and a more liveable and South Africa’s economy.
Diesel 27 874 053 2 059 892
energy consumption nationally, while, in 40 000 MW to 80 000 MW. economically competitive city.
HFO** 4 116 143 317 766
Cape Town, industry accounts for only The country is both emissions-intensive and
14%. Nationally, residential and commercial Wood 49 574 – Such increases are set to continue, with Although the current supply shortage energy-intensive, and mitigation presents
demand account for only 13%, while, Sub-total 127 645 128 20 550 175 electricity prices projected to rise by more was alleviated by the 2009 recession, the South Africa with a fundamental economic
in Cape Town, these sectors account for Population 2007 3 497 100 than 400% from 2006 to 2016. While shortage remains, and further blackouts and challenge that will require a well-planned,
34%. This very different profile, combined Carbon footprint/capita load-shedding are unlikely to be avoided. long-term and co-ordinated response.
with the tight supply situation, a large 5,88 tonnes CO2e
services sector and tourism industry, its Solid waste (landfill) 2 665 110
pursuit of the reputation as a green city Aviation fuels 16 082 323 1 153 103
and its distance from coal mines and power Maritime fuels 38 237 320 2 990 158
generation, presents Cape Town with a Total CO2e 181 964 771 27 358 547
different set of strategic challenges, such Carbon footprint/capita
as the need to shrink the city’s carbon 7,82 tonnes CO2e
footprint and to localise energy supplies. * Liquified petroleum gas
** Heavy fuel oil
Source: Cape Town 2011, State of Energy and
Energy Futures Report
Cape Town carbon emissions by sector, 2007 Cape Town electricity consumption by sector, 2007
Transport 27% Transport 2%
Residential 29% Residential 43%
Commercial 28% Commercial 40%
Industrial 15% Industrial 13%
Government 1% Government 2%
Source: Cape Town 2011, State of Energy and Energy Futures Report Source: Cape Town 2011, State of Energy and Energy Futures Report
12 13
An optimum Cape Town’s Climate Change Think Tank, interventions and external drivers, such The business-as-usual scenario indicates
energy future
a group of academics, specialists and as increasing energy prices and carbon a doubling of energy consumption and
City officials that has been meeting since taxes. It also looks at the relative costs and carbon emissions by 2034. Such a future
June 2009 to discuss information and carbon emissions profiles of the different is clearly untenable.
research needs, noted that, without good interventions as well as associated job-
quantitative information on current and creation potential.
for Cape Town
future energy consumption and supply
parameters as well as on carbon emissions, South African contribution to carbon emissions reductions required
the City and partners would not be able to to maintain global temperature increase below 2°
assess climate risk accurately nor plan and
prioritise the Energy and Climate Action Plan.
The Think Tank therefore undertook a study
entitled ‘Energy Scenarios for Cape Town:
Exploring the implications of different
energy futures for the City of Cape Town
up to 2050’. The quality and level of detail
of energy data in this study are a great
improvement on the 2003 and 2007 State
of Energy reports. Original data were
collected specifically to inform the study
and to assess future options for Cape Town
in the context of the rapidly changing local
Source: Winkler, H 2010. Taking action on climate change: Long-term mitigation scenarios for
energy scene and environmental context. South Africa. Cape Town, UCT Press.
A Cape Town 2011 State of Energy and
Energy Futures report has also subsequently Maintaining Cape Town’s international reputation and competitiveness is an additional
been compiled. imperative for reducing energy consumption and for pursuing larger quantities of renewable
energy in its supply mix. This means not only that the City must intervene proactively in
The Energy Scenarios for Cape Town study national resource development planning, but that the City must also support and facilitate
looks at various scenarios up to 2050 to local projects such as solar water heating, solar photo-voltaics and small wind turbines on
determine the effect of energy-related house, mall and factory rooftops, for own supply and for feeding back into the grid.
14 15
Energy consumption and global warming
potential business-as-usual vs optimum energy future
Energy consumption Global warming potential
Route from a business-as-usual
to an optimum energy future Optimum energy future electricity supply mix
Source: Energy Scenarios for Cape Town, 2011 Source: Energy Scenarios for Cape Town, 2011
The optimum energy future scenario results • diversity of energy supply provides Other structural changes associated
in an energy and carbon emissions profile protection against disruption of a with the optimum energy future, such
with numerous co-benefits: particular supply option; and as densification, public transport and
• investment in local and onsite energy integrated neighbourhoods, lead to greater
• local economic development of services decreases vulnerability to energy social cohesion, more liveable cities and
renewable energy, energy efficiency and supply disruption and energy price communities that are more resilient to
energy services industries; volatility of bulk supplies sourced outside external environmental and economic
• lower energy service costs to households, Cape Town or the Cape Town vicinity. shocks (including climate change). Even
commuters, commerce and industry; without alleviating the carbon emissions
• improved energy security for all sectors; Energy efficiency and renewable energy constraints, the optimum energy future Source: Energy Scenarios for Cape Town, 2011 Source: Energy Scenarios for Cape Town, 2011
• local generation and reduced demand often pay for themselves, leading to lower makes financial, economic, environmental
through efficiency both decrease the energy costs and more secure supply, as and social sense. Cape Town has a relatively high carbon footprint, mainly because of its coal-based electricity supply, urban sprawl and predominantly road-
risk of, and vulnerability to, bulk supply well as local jobs, a cleaner environment based transport system. Hence, urgent action is needed. Delayed action will cost more and will contribute to catastrophic climate change as
disruptions; and a more competitive economy. well as precipitate drastic international measures.
Cumulative net savings from electricity efficiency
Carbon tax implications of different scenarios interventions up to 2025
Source: Energy Scenarios for Cape Town, 2011 Source: Energy Scenarios for Cape Town, 2011
16 17
Action plan
Background to objectives 1, 2 and 3
– increased energy security
Reduction in consumption of high-carbon electricity by increasing energy
objectives,
efficiency and the use of cleaner and renewable energy sources
Objective 01 Citywide: 10% reduction in electricity consumption by 2012,
off a ‘business-as-usual’ baseline
programmes Objective 02 Council (local authority) operations: 10% reduction in energy
consumption by 2012
Objective 03 10% renewable and cleaner energy supply by 2020. Meet growth in
electricity demand with cleaner/renewable supply, among other sources
and projects Bulk electricity supply from the national
grid has become unreliable and Cape Town
experienced blackouts (load-shedding) in
2006 and 2008. There is a serious gap
The first three Action Plan objectives
therefore aim to reduce electricity
consumption and move toward a more
localised and lower carbon electricity and
resources by 2030. This means that supply
from the grid will remain high carbon.
However, a variety of renewable energy
supply options are already cost-competitive
between national supply and demand, energy supply. with conventional supply technologies, and
and this is not expected to change for the over the next decade these options should
next few years. After decades of cheap South Africa’s recently announced electricity become more attractive. In addition,
electricity, price increases approved by the generation investment plan for 2010 – 2030 South Africa has made commitments to
National Energy Regulator of South Africa does not include significant investment decrease emissions: This not only makes
will result in increases of more than 400% in renewable energy: In terms of current financial and economic sense, but will also
up to 2016. planning, only 9% of electricity energy to become an economic and political necessity
the national grid will be from renewable as the international carbon emissions regime
tightens.18 19
Citywide: 10% reduction in
electricity consumption by 2012,
Objective off a ‘business-as-usual’ baseline
01
Programmes:
Residential, commercial and
industrial efficiency campaigns
The most effective efficiency opportunities
are in medium-income to high-income
households and commercial buildings.
A high-profile and multi-pronged electricity
savings campaign, funded in part by the
City’s Electricity Department, has been in
operation since 2009. The City also runs a
Source: City of Cape Town Commercial Energy Efficiency Forum with
the active participation of more than
Action Plan objective 1 addresses direction to investments in equipment and 400 members. An Industrial Energy
Cape Town’s immediate need to cut electricity use patterns. Investment in both Efficiency Forum is being established
electricity demand to assist with the energy efficient equipment and behaviour along similar lines.
national supply/demand shortage and make change is crucial. The City acknowledges
the city less vulnerable to supply disruptions the role of energy efficiency in promoting Solar water heating
due to the national supply shortage. It also economic development, social welfare and Replacing electric water heaters with
sets in motion a change in attitude and environmental sustainability. combined electric solar water heaters offers
enormous potential to reduce electricity
consumption. There are more than
400 000 electric hot water cylinders in
medium-income to high-income households
in the city and a programme is being
devised to facilitate households changing
to solar water heaters. This will reduce
electricity consumption by at least 6%
at considerably lower financial cost to
households.
Resource-efficient development
New and refurbished residential
and commercial developments offer
opportunities for changing the built
environment to a more resource-efficient
one, with lower life-cycle costs and with
environmental benefits. The City has
developed a Green Buildings Handbook,
and is preparing to implement the
new energy efficient national building
regulations.
The most attractive immediate opportunities
are energy efficiency interventions in medium-
income to high-income residential households
and commercial buildings.20 21
Council operations – 10% reduction
in energy consumption by 2012
Objective
02
The City is a major energy user in its own
Municipal regulations can make the
financing of energy efficiency projects
challenging, but the implementation of
a number of successful pilot projects has
resulted in significant budget allocation for
retrofits from the City’s budget.
Upgrading existing City rental stock
Phase 1 of the upgrade of existing City
rental housing has been completed, with
the installation of insulated ceilings, water
meters and compact fluorescent lights
(CFLs), and the servicing of windows to
minimise draughts. The programme includes
was developed in 2010, which includes
improving efficiency and decreasing
emissions of existing vehicles and ensuring
that efficiency and emissions are key
criteria in procuring new vehicles. Eco-
driver training is under way. Investigating
fuel/technology switching, such as liquid
right, operating a vehicle fleet of some Programmes: other interventions such as installing low- petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural
6 000 vehicles, managing numerous flow showerheads and supporting specific gas, electric and/or hybrids conversion – and
municipal buildings and using energy to Building retrofits behaviour changes. implementation if viable – is a component
provide services such as large-scale water The City owns more than 5 000 facilities, of the programme.
pumping, street lighting and traffic lights. including at least 80 significant Greening the City’s procurement
As both the largest single energy consumer administrative buildings, 100 clinics and policy Public lighting and traffic light
and the largest single employer in 100 libraries. In initiating this programme, The City is incorporating green criteria retrofits
Cape Town, it has a key role to play in 16 buildings were earmarked for into its procurement process. This includes With national government funding
leading by example, transforming local consideration, and a project to audit and fuel-efficiency and emissions criteria in assistance for energy efficiency and
goods and services supply through green retrofit four of these has been completed. vehicle purchase tenders, green-trained demand-side management, the City is
procurement, and reaching the citizens Results indicate a seven-year payback professionals in building development retrofitting street lights and traffic lights. In
through its own staff. period on technology interventions, and tenders, green paper requirements and the past two years, the City has retrofitted
approximately 22% savings, about half of energy efficiency in maintenance contracts. 11 000 street lights and 7 000 traffic lights,
Substantial savings to City coffers can be which are anticipated from the behaviour- with resulting energy savings of
made through efficiency upgrades, and, change programme. Greening the City’s fleet 4 321 MWh per annum.
in most cases, such investments have The City operates more than 6 000 vehicles.
financially attractive payback periods. Technology retrofits implemented include A comprehensive fleet-greening strategy
installation of high-efficiency luminaires,
control of air-conditioner operating hours,
Fezeka municipal buildings – one of four ‘performance guaranteed’
solar water heater installations, thermostat
building retrofits the City implemented in 2010
control, and power factor corrections.
An energy efficiency audit of the
Civic Centre, the City’s largest building,
was completed in June 2010. The
implementation of retrofits is expected to
finish in 2012.
Solar water heaters have been installed
in all 23 nature reserve buildings and
44 clinics. A lighting retrofit project of all
City libraries and clinics is also under way.
The City’s achievements are being used to
promote retrofitting and behaviour-change
programmes in residential and commercial Source: Shared Energy Management, 2011
buildings.22 23
10% renewable and cleaner energy supply
by 2020; meet the growth in electricity
Objective demand with cleaner/renewable supply,
03
among other sources
Action Plan objective 3 addresses of the components for renewable energy
Cape Town’s contribution to national technologies, such as solar and wind,
carbon emissions reduction targets, its aim can be manufactured and installed in
to be a leading low-carbon city, and the South Africa, providing significant
requirement for local business and industry employment and economic development.
to have access to low-carbon electricity. The costs of renewable energy technologies
Nuclear-powered electricity generation is have been decreasing rapidly and continue
low carbon. However, a large proportion to do so. In 2008 more was invested
of a nuclear power plant would need to globally in large new renewable electricity
be imported at great cost whereas most generation than in conventional (coal, gas,
nuclear and large hydro) plant.
Programmes: Embedded and small-scale supply and for feeding back into the City
renewable electricity supply distribution system. The City is working
Large-scale renewable energy supply Rapid technology development is making with National Government and regulatory
The City pioneered local government options such as small-scale wind and authorities to overcome regulatory and
support for wind-powered electricity solar photo-voltaics, for example on technical issues related to electricity
generation through its contract to purchase commercial, industrial and residential consumers and small electricity producers
electricity produced by the Darling wind rooftops, economically viable both for own feeding electricity back into the grid.
farm. This is sold by the City to willing
buyers who want access to green power
through a Green Energy Certificate scheme.
The South African National Government
is setting up a new regulatory regime to
facilitate independent power producer
access to the national grid. As soon as this
is possible, the City will be able to extend
city residents’ access to green power
through the new scheme.
Renewable energy from City
operations
The City is considering a number of options
to use energy from waste. These include
waste/sewerage to methane gas, waste-
to-energy, and co-generation. The recovery
of landfill, organic waste and wastewater
treatment plant methane is of added
significance given that methane is a major
contributor to the carbon emissions from
City-owned facilities.24 25
Background to objectives 4 and 5
– a compact, resource-efficient city with a sustainable transport system
Objective 04 Build a more compact, resource-efficient city
Objective 05 Develop a more sustainable transport system
Spatial settlement and economic activity employment. The overall city density is very The City is addressing spatial patterns While Cape Town has one of the better Energy used per mode
patterns in Cape Town are a legacy of low. Of the 1 million households in Cape with a Densification Strategy (including public transport systems in southern Africa,
apartheid planning: Population densities Town, 118 000 are informal households. promoting densification around transport it is still poor by international standards.
are highest in the low-income and informal The city population is growing rapidly at an routes and nodes) and establishing an The public transport system in Cape Town
settlements on the outskirts of the city, average rate of 3% per year, while growth urban edge. comprises rail, bus and mini-bus taxis. Just
far from economic activity and places of in informal dwellings is much higher. under half of all trips are made by private
vehicles, and the average commuting
distance is 25 km. Poor people spend
Spatial layout of Cape Town up to 20% of their income on public
transport. The city is dependent on road-
– denser areas are typically poor areas, far from commercial and industrial centres
based transport for both passenger and
freight mobility: Only four of the 17 rail
lines currently meet passenger demand
and 77% of all freight is transported by
road. The trend towards increasing vehicle
ownership and use, particularly of single-
Source: Department of Transport: Transport Statistics Bulletin, 2008
occupancy vehicles, is not sustainable: It is
energy inefficient, contributes significantly
to carbon emissions and requires use of
valuable urban space. Without quality public transport densification
Long travel distances and inefficient vehicles is not possible; without densification quality
mean that transport accounts for half of
the city’s energy consumption, a third of its
public transport is not sustainable
carbon emissions and significant air pollution.
Transport modal share in terms of passenger km in Cape Town, 2007
Private 48%
Rail 28%
Mini-bus 15%
Bus 9%
Reference: Turok, Sinclair-Smith and Shand, 2010
Source: Energy Scenarios for Cape Town, 201126 27
Build a more compact Density affects energy
resource-efficient city consumption
Objective
04
Action Plan objective 4 addresses a number of interrelated challenges relating to spatial Spatial Development Framework Energy consumption per capita vs density
planning and transport. The City of Cape Town’s Spatial
Development Framework (SDF) (endorsed
The need to densify the City by Council in 2011) has three key strategies:
• planning for employment and improving
access to economic opportunities;
• managing urban growth and creating a
balance between urban development
and environmental protection; and
• building an inclusive, integrated, vibrant
city.
The SDF is supported by integrated spatial
development plans and environmental
management frameworks for each of
Source: data from UITP Millenium Cities Database, 1999. Cape Town’s position is similar to that of the
Cape Town’s eight planning districts. Australian cities, but in South Africa poor city dwellers generally live far from urban opportunities.
Source: Energy Scenarios for Cape Town, 2011 While the SDF has statements supporting
densification and development edges, Appropriate densification planning offers World Town Planning Day:
the more detailed Densification Strategy multiple benefits. It makes public transport Planning for a low-carbon city
and the Urban Edges Policy are yet to be economically viable, enables integrated In 2009 the City hosted a conference for its
approved by Council. communities, makes the city more liveable, staff and elected officials in order to build
decreases energy consumption and the capacity and skills for low-carbon urban
need for long-distance commutes, and design. The conference included information
enables improved lifestyles, recreation and on the role of planning in supporting a
health status. low-carbon economy, city case studies (of
Johannesburg, China, Brazil), as well as low-
carbon legislation and financing.28 29
Develop a more sustainable
transport system
Objective
05
Action Plan objective 5 incorporates the Programmes: Non-motorised transport (NMT)
City’s integrated rapid transit system, The City of Cape Town’s vision is to increase
non-motorised transport (NMT) and travel Integrated rapid transit (IRT) NMT as a preferred means of travel. Its goal
demand management programmes. is to increase cycling and encourage walking
programme
Cape Town’s IRT Phase 1A, the MyCiTi by creating a safe and pleasant network of
The new National Land Transport Act allows bicycle and pedestrian routes.
service, commenced operations in May 2010.
cities to take on greater responsibility for
This first phase incorporates a network of
public transport – everything from planning Employee trip-reduction
main and feeder routes, using a fleet of
and co-ordinating the various modes to programme
modern, energy efficient buses travelling on
licensing, regulating and administering The City is working with the Western Cape
dedicated busways. Smaller feeder buses
funds for capital projects and public Provincial Government and five other
travel with ordinary traffic through suburbs
transport subsidies. The City aims to large employers on a pilot programme
and industrial areas transporting passengers
develop a single, integrated public transport to establish a set of support measures
to and from the main routes.
system with all modes working together involving flexible working hours, tele-
efficiently. commuting, parking, public transport,
The MyCiTi service links Cape Town
International Airport with passenger rail, vehicle multi-occupancy and NMT. This will
commuter bus, taxi and long-distance help reduce single-occupancy vehicle use
Bus and mini-bus taxi (BMT) lane transport options. Dedicated bicycle lanes and vehicle emissions, and encourage a
form part of the MyCiTi roll-out. modal shift toward public transport.
Bus Fleet Planned for Phase 1A of IRT The project is largely funded by the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Service Vehicle size Total buses
Feeder buses 8m 27
12 m 165
Main buses 12 m 87
18 m 31
Total 310
Source: CCT Source: CCT30 31
Adapt to and build resilience to
climate change impacts
Objective
06
The Copenhagen Accord agreed to limit These changes present a range of risks
emissions so that the temperature rise is to Cape Town, including water and food
no more than 2˚C, although it is likely that in-security, damage to key infrastructure
with current and future emission levels, and transport routes, interruption to service
we will exceed this. This temperature rise delivery, health risks, heat stress, flooding,
will severely affect our natural and built and negative impacts on the groundwater
environment, as well as our communities, table, ecosystem health and biodiversity.
economies and social fabric. These impacts will affect Cape Town’s
economy, as the city is dependent on its
Cape Town is a developing city on the natural assets for its tourism economy and
coast. It is particularly vulnerable to climatic global ‘destination’ status.
changes. These changes will likely involve
sea-level rise, an increase in storm-surge The City of Cape Town is therefore
frequency and intensity, an increase in undertaking a number of key actions to
extreme weather events, changing rainfall adapt to and prepare for, these significant
patterns, increasing temperature extremes, risks and challenges.
and shifting wind patterns and extremes.
Programmes: The City has therefore embarked on a by the high-water mark and landward
process to investigate fiscal reform options by the coastal edge line, will limit further
Sea-level rise risk assessment and that will identify appropriate sources of infrastructure development and protect the
revenue that would finance these significant remaining coastal ecosystem function and
economic modelling
requirements. dynamics. Both the CPZ and the bylaw are
In 2008 the City initiated a five-phase
currently under review.
project to model the predicted risks of both
average sea-level rise and the associated Climate Adaptation Plan of Action
risk of more frequent and intense coastal The City’s Climate Adaptation Plan of Initiating a climate change policy
storms and resulting storm-surge events. Action (CAPA) is a component of the The City has extensive information on
This modelling enabled an economic risk Energy and Climate Action Plan. It aims to potential climate change impacts. The City
assessment of City infrastructure, which is understand the predicted consequences is embracing these governance challenges
being used to inform the City’s no-regrets and risks for the city, identify appropriate by developing a climate change policy,
risk-averse forward planning. The City responses to these, and provide detailed which will create a legal framework for
continues to update and review its sea- actions in each sector plan, for example addressing the City’s responsibilities.
level rise predictions to ensure informed stormwater management responses to more
decision-making about development and intense rainfall, to sea-level rise and storm Ecosystem mapping
infrastructure. surges. One of Cape Town’s most important
adaptation strategies is the protection,
Financial preparations for the Coastal Protection Zone Bylaw management and rehabilitation of
Already under pressure on account of its functioning ecosystems. Not only do
implications of climate change
desirability, Cape Town’s coastline, with functioning ecosystems provide the best
The impacts of climate change will have
its highly dynamic coastal zone, is also adaptation potential, they are also the most
severe economic (capital and operating)
particularly at risk from climatic changes. cost-effective, with the least associated
costs for the City. The burden of repair,
The City has therefore proposed a coastal maladaptation risks. The City will map and
replacement or removal of infrastructure
protection zone (CPZ) reinforced with a identify the functioning ecosystems that
and services, as well as responding to
Coastal Protection Zone Bylaw (the first of must be protected and managed.
change, rests on the City budget.
its kind in Africa). The CPZ, defined seaward32 33
Improve the resilience of
vulnerable communities
Objective
07
Although 95% of households in Cape Town the smoke inside poorly ventilated houses Thermally-efficient low-income Other projects Free basic electricity roll-out
have access to electricity, poor households exacerbates respiratory disease. housing Further low-cost housing projects have Cape Town has led the country in the
often depend on paraffin and/or wood Kuyasa CDM also seen energy efficiency interventions: provision of a ‘lifeline tariff’, where
for cooking and heating. Energy poverty Many energy interventions result in In one of Africa’s earliest successful Lwandle, once a migrant hostel households using less than 450 KWh of
remains a significant challenge, as low- significant co-benefits. Interventions that clean development mechanism (CDM) development, was the first housing project electricity per month receive the first
income households can spend up to 25% improve the thermal efficiency of houses, projects, insulated ceilings, energy efficient nationally to include solar water heaters; 50 KWh free.
of their income on meeting their energy for example, not only decrease emissions, lighting and solar water heaters were the City has initiated a programme to install
needs. Paraffin and candles, however, are but also lead to lower monthly fuel bills, a installed in more than 2 300 houses in ceilings in pre-2005 housing units that were Solar water heaters
responsible for devastating fires that spread better living environment, improved indoor Kuyasa, Khayelitsha (completed 2010). built without ceilings, in order to increase The City is in the process of establishing
quickly through informal settlements, air quality and, therefore, fewer health This is a partnership project between the comfort, improve indoor air quality and the mass solar water heater roll-out
leaving hundreds of families homeless. problems. Department of Environment, City of reduce energy costs to poor households; a programme, which will include low-income
Paraffin is also a dangerous poison and Cape Town, SAEDF and South South North. pilot ceiling retrofit project has been carried households.
out in Mamre; Witsands in Atlantis has used
extensive thermal-efficiency measures; and
some of the new housing projects include
solar water heaters.34 35
Background to objectives 8 and 9
– finance and economic development
Objective 08 Enable local economic development in the energy sector
Objective 09 Access climate finance
The economic benefits of climate and energy actions
In 2008 worldwide total investment South Africa is about to invest hundreds Energy efficiency and renewable energy also
(US$140 million) in new and renewable of billions of rands in new wind and offer substantial opportunities for replacing
energy electricity-generation plant (mainly solar photo-voltaic electricity-generation the import and use of energy from outside
wind and solar photo-voltaic) exceeded capacity, according to the recently published the metro area. Research and development,
investment in conventional plant (coal, Integrated Resource Plan 2010 – 2030. The design and manufacture, and installation
gas, nuclear and large hydro). New and plan contains 8 400 MW of solar photo- and maintenance of goods and services all
renewable energy electricity generation is voltaic and 8 400 MW of wind-powered provide economic opportunities, as do the
now a major mainstream industry. electricity generation, enough demand to mass manufacture and installation of items
facilitate and grow local industries that such as solar water heaters and ceilings.
could develop competitive international
export capability.36 37
Enable local economic development
in the energy sector
Objective
08
The City plans to see the installation of Cape Town (energy studies, as well as
solar water heaters on every household engineering), the Cape Peninsula University
in the long term, as they offer significant of Technology (Energy Technology Unit)
opportunities for local design, manufacture and Stellenbosch University (Centre for
and supply of these and other renewable Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies).
energy and energy efficiency technologies Cape Town is home to a number of solar
and associated services. water heater manufacturers, a solar photo-
voltaic panel plant and an internationally
The Western Cape is an ideal centre for competitive alternative energy power
the South African renewable energy electronics design and manufacturing
industry, including component and capability. Concerted strategic efforts are
system manufacturing. Already the city now required to establish a competitive
and the region host leading research and local industry based on demand for green
development centres at the University of energy technologies and related knowledge
and skills.
Economic Development Strategy
The City’s Economic Development Strategy
cites lower carbon city development as a
key economic driver, and recognises that
in order for Cape Town to be economically
competitive it needs to be able to offer
investors resource-efficient and lower
carbon opportunities.
Establishment of a renewable
energy sector development
agency
In 2010 the City partnered with the
Western Cape Provincial Government to
establish Green Cape, a sector development
agency aiming to unlock the manufacturing
and employment potential of the ‘green
energy economy’ in the Western Cape.38 39
Access Raise awareness and promote
climate finance behaviour change through
Objective Objective communication and education
09 10
An increasing range of funds are available and expense are required to access these
to cities to invest in climate change-related opportunities. This remains an area of
projects which the City is accessing where interest, though, and the City is continuing
possible. The Cleaner Development to investigate ways in which carbon trading
Mechanism (CDM) and voluntary carbon could work for local government projects.
emission reduction trading opportunities The City has to date accessed extensive
under the Kyoto Protocol have been climate finance which has been a key
investigated extensively by the City, but catalyst for project development and
considerable technical capacity, effort implementation.
Although many of the individual projects
mentioned in this document have dedicated
communication, awareness and education
components, there is a need to provide
energy and climate change information to
a more general audience, including school
learners, City staff, residents and businesses.
Electricity savings campaign off plug and light switches. Through
The electricity savings campaign targets electronic resources, posters, publications,
residential consumers, aiming to reduce exhibitions and events, the campaign
consumption through a wide range of shares guidelines, information about energy
behaviour-change actions, such as turning technologies, and tips on electricity saving,
down geyser temperatures and switching to reach the widest possible audience.40 41
Commercial Energy Efficiency Smart Living Handbook Youth Environmental School Climate Smart Cape Town
Forum The 160-page Smart Living Handbook, (YES)programme In 2011 the City, in partnership with the
This forum provides a platform for already in its second edition, guides people The City manages a year-round Youth Cape Town Climate Change Coalition,
commercial building owners/managers in resource-efficient, sustainable daily Environmental School (YES) programme, launched the Climate Smart Cape Town
to share best practices, innovative practices around water, waste, energy and which reaches about 50 000 learners a year. Campaign, which promotes climate change
management systems and viable biodiversity. Through YES, young Capetonians from all literacy and awareness among residents
technologies to increase energy efficiency. backgrounds gain knowledge, hands-on and decision-makers, and leads the way for
The forum has seen much success and Smart Living campaign skills and respect for their environment, the city’s participation in COP17. The Cape
interest, with substantial attendance at The Smart Living campaign is a through clean-up days, festivals and energy Town Climate Change Coalition includes
quarterly meetings from more than comprehensive, ongoing sustainable- efficiency conferences. businesses, NGOs, academia, and provincial
200 participating companies. lifestyle campaign, aimed at Council staff, and local government.
communities, businesses and schools in YES is complemented by EduNet, an
Industrial Energy Efficiency Forum Cape Town. It focuses on waste, energy, environmental educators’ network.
Following on the success of the commercial water and biodiversity.
forum, the City is establishing an Industrial As part of a Green Schools programme,
Energy Efficiency Forum, using the com- City staff training selected schools have received energy,
mercial forum as a blueprint. The City Extensive training programmes range from waste, water and biodiversity audits and
convenes a large consumers group, basic environmental awareness training to have been retrofitted, with the aim of
where information regarding national Smart Living and Smart Office training. promoting the concept of sustainable
government’s requirements for consumption schools.
reduction is shared.42 43
Resources
City of Cape Town Key technical
climate change support partners
think tank
The Climate Change Think Tank comprises building a financial model to underpin The City has long-term close relationships
and
academics, specialists and City officials fiscal reform to support adaptation and with the non-profit organisation,
who have been meeting since June 2009 mitigation mechanisms. Sustainable Energy Africa, the national
to discuss information and research needs. electricity utility, Eskom, the South African
The Think Tank is funded by the Royal Cities Network, ICLEI (Local Governments
Danish Embassy, British High Commission Funders for Sustainability), and academic institutions
partners and partners
and more recently MISTRA (Swedish) such as the University of Cape Town
funding, and works with partners (in particular the Energy Research Centre,
Sustainable Energy Africa and the African The Royal Danish Government via African Centre for Cities and Climate
Centre for Cities at University of Cape DANIDA has lent significant support to Systems Analysis Group), Universities of
Town to commission research and to share the development of the City’s energy Stellenbosch and the Western Cape, and
research results with broader groupings and climate change work. National Cape Peninsula University of Technology
and key stakeholders such as Western Government’s Energy Efficiency and and the Council for Scientific and Industrial
Cape Provincial Government and the Cape Demand-side Management Fund is Research (CSIR). The City also works
Town Partnership. The research programme providing significant funding to projects. closely with the Western Cape Provincial
includes modelling for the Energy Scenarios The Department of Provincial Government Government and has a Joint Energy Action
for Cape Town 2011 study, modelling of of Western Cape Environment provided Plan and regular meetings on all matters
the interaction between the fresh water critical funding for the Kuyasa project. environmental; the City and Province are
and marine systems, risk assessment and We are also immensely grateful to the partners in the Green Cape initiative (see
defining adaptation measures, a review of British High Commission and Hivos, as well Objective 8).
legal implications and tools for addressing as a great number of other funders and
both mitigation and adaptation, and supporters.
Resources
• Energy and Climate Change Strategy, 2006
• Energy and Climate Action Plan
• What is the City of Cape Town doing about Energy and Climate Change?
www.capetown.gov.za/environmentalpolicies
• State of Energy and Energy Futures Report, 2011
• Moving Mountains – Cape Town’s Action Plan for Energy and Climate Change, 2011
• Energy Scenarios for Cape Town, 2011
• Framework for Adaptation to Climate Change, 2006
• Sea-level Rise Risk Assessment
www.capetown.gov.za/environmentalreports
• Smart Living Handbook
www.capetown.gov.za/smartlivinghandbook
• Green Building Guidelines
www.capetown.gov.za/greenbuilding
• Green Goal Report (World Cup 2010)
www.capetown.gov.za/greengoallegacy44 complete ongoing planned 45
List of city of
Objective 1 – citywide: 10% reduction in electricity consumption by 2012,
off a business-as-usual baseline
Programme area Project
Energy efficiency plan Detailed plan development based on Energy Scenarios for Cape Town
Cape Town energy
study
Electricity consumption reduction – Electricity Savings Campaign:
residential and commercial Energy Efficiency Forum
Solar water heating Mass roll-out of solar water heaters, mid- to high-income (low-income
under Objective 7)
and climate change
Metering as an energy efficiency Internet-based metering – large customers
measure Ripple control pilot
Smart metering for all consumers
Energy efficiency in new/ renovated Preparation of Resource Efficient Development Policy
programmes and
developments Implementation of National Building Regulations Part XA – amendment
which establishes energy efficiency requirements in all new build and
renovations
Green Building Handbook
Reduction in electricity theft Integration with electricity savings campaign
projects Objective 2 – council operations: 10% reduction in energy consumption
by 2012
Programme area Project
Buildings retrofits Monitor six completed municipal buildings, continue behaviour-change
work/best practice demonstration
Ongoing retrofits of buildings until all are complete – use guaranteed
savings method
Energy management system: Cape Town Stadium, ongoing monitoring/
best practice demo
Civic Centre retrofit – project implementation (audit complete)
City buildings – lighting retrofit and automatic meter reader installation
City clinics – solar water heaters retrofit – monitor/best practice demo
City fire stations – solar water heaters and energy efficient showerheadsYou can also read
