The City of Cape Town has initiated a new tender as part of its strategy to address loadshedding.
Also read: Dark start to 2024: Eskom announces return of loadshedding
The objective is to procure power from existing generators to diversify the energy supply and reduce reliance on Eskom. The procurement plan includes a two-step structure, allowing bidders to supplement dispatchable/reserve power and include an optional self-dispatchable component at a lower cost than the current Eskom Megaflex Tariff.
The city aims to secure a maximum capacity of 300MW for dispatchable/reserve power and 200MW for self-dispatchable power, contingent on response levels and pricing.
The contract duration is envisaged to be three years, subject to the successful conclusion of a mandatory Section 33 process. The tender submission deadline is 8 April 2024.
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The City’s Mayco member for energy, councillor Beverley van Reenen, says the top priority is to end loadshedding in Cape Town, with short-term plans to ‘protect against the first four stages of Eskom load-shedding by 2026, adding 650MW of independent power to our mix within five years, and building up to the ultimate goal of access to additional independent power to put an end to Eskom load-shedding.’
Cape Town’s short-term loadshedding mitigation plans up to 2026 include a mix of the Steenbras Hydro Plant (one to two stages); 500MW of dispatchable energy (up to four stages from 6am – 10pm daily, where possible), and demand management programmes.
Furthermore, the City’s demand management programmes include Large Power Users (LPUs) curtailment and Power Heroes, a voluntary programme for households and small commercial customers that enables the remote switching of power-intensive appliances such as geysers and pool pumps.
The following power supply diversification projects are currently underway:
- Embedded IPP renewable energy (200MW) to diversify electricity suppliers for more cost-effective electricity.
- Dispatchable IPP Program (up to 500MW), a key load-shedding mitigation mechanism, with 10-year power contracts for dispatchable power plants.
- Wheeling (up to 350MW), a City-enabled means of third parties selling electricity to each other using existing grid infrastructure.
- City-owned SSEG (up to 20MW), from the Atlantis plant (7MW) and solar PV at City facilities (13MW).
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Also read:
Analysts slam SA’s draft energy plan, predict 7 years of loadshedding
Picture: Matthew Henry / Unsplash