V&A Waterfront to harness wind and solar for bulk of its energy needs

The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Etana Energy for 43 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable energy a year.

The deal means electricity from wind and solar farms operated by independent power producers will meet up to 70% of the V&A’s energy needs, starting by early 2026.

The 10-year PPA with Etana, a licensed electricity trader, is a key landmark in the rollout of the V&A’s sustainability strategy, which includes a commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2035.

André Theys, Executive Manager: Operations at the V&A, said 90% of the Waterfront’s emissions come from energy purchases, so the PPA with Etana will make a major contribution to reducing the neighbourhood’s carbon footprint.

In doing so, it will also benefit the wider community. “The V&A’s sustainability strategy is based on a shared value ecosystem in which everyone at the Waterfront – tenants, residents, staff and visitors – works together to make our precinct the best it can be” said Theys.

“But we’re also keen to share the value we offer with the whole of Cape Town and even South Africa. By being proactively innovative, we can showcase what’s possible and provide proof points that make it easier for others to follow in our footsteps. The PPA with Etana Energy is a great example of this approach."

Energy efficiency is one of the key pillars of the V&A sustainability strategy, and with the addition of the Waterfront’s rooftop solar installations almost 80% of the neighbourhood’s electricity will come from renewable sources when the Etana agreement becomes operational.

The V&A, with 24 million visitors a year, has already reduced its carbon emissions by 47%, its water use by 61%, and all organic and recyclable waste – 62% of the total – is diverted from landfills. Single-use plastic will be phased out by 2025.

The precinct’s planned waste-to-energy pyrolysis plant will produce synthetic gas for electricity, complementing solar power, and a blackwater treatment plant produces treated effluent that is used to flush toilets.

A desalination plant has the capacity to take the entire neighbourhood off the City of Cape Town water supply.

The PPA follows a similar deal with Etana Energy by Growthpoint Properties, joint owner of the V&A Waterfront with the Public Investment Corporation. The Growthpoint PPA is for 195GWh of renewable energy annually, representing 32% of the company’s total annual consumption.