Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, recently visited the Atlantis Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Plant, a historic renewable energy project currently under construction by the Lesedi Technoserve Consortium. This marks the City’s first solar power plant and, once completed, it will feed 7 megawatts (MW) of electricity directly into Cape Town’s grid.
During the visit, Mayor Hill-Lewis reaffirmed the City’s commitment to building its own renewable energy infrastructure. He said the project is a key step towards securing a stable and reliable power supply, reducing load-shedding’s economic impact, and eventually lowering electricity costs for residents.
“In the past, many metros had their own coal-fired power stations. Cape Town had one in Athlone, but it was demolished in the mid-2000s because it was outdated,” said the Mayor. “Since then, municipalities have relied solely on Eskom, and that’s led to an insecure and unreliable energy supply.”
He added that when his administration took office, they made it clear that Cape Town would not accept the national constraints. “We started buying power from independent producers, and now we’re building our own renewable power stations. The Atlantis Solar PV Plant is the first of its kind for the city.”
According to the Mayor, the power generated at Atlantis will be cheaper than the current supply, helping reduce the overall cost for the city. “One of the best things about this project is that it’s creating jobs for residents from Atlantis. Not only are they earning an income, but they’re also gaining valuable skills in the renewable energy sector,” he said.
Lesedi’s Renewables Managing Executive, Juston Sikaundi, said the project is progressing well, with over 50% of the construction completed.
“This plant represents our commitment to a clean, sustainable energy future. From the beginning, we knew it would take determination, teamwork, and strong partnerships to get here,” he said.
The Atlantis Solar PV Plant is expected to play a critical role in helping Cape Town become more energy-resilient while creating long-term economic opportunities.