Cape Town Launches 7 MW Atlantis Sun Farm to Enhance City-Owned Solar Power
Cape Town's Atlantis 7 MW Sun Farm is a city-owned solar energy initiative featuring 12,832 photovoltaic panels. The project aims to provide 7 MW of clean energy, reducing the city's dependence on Eskom and cutting electricity costs.
With a budget of R200 million, funding includes R144 million for generation hardware and R38 million for lithium-iron-phosphate battery containers. The project is expected to achieve a 14.6% internal rate of return and a levelized energy cost of 68 c/kWh in its first year, 34% cheaper than Eskom's anticipated rates.
Local economic benefits include 62% of labor hours from Atlantis residents and 28% from nearby artisans, alongside the creation of new start-ups. Advanced technologies include Nextracker NX Horizon solar trackers and Huawei inverters.
Ecological measures involve relocating invasive species and using bird-safe cabling. Future city-owned renewable projects are planned to follow this model.
