70% of V&A Waterfront to be powered by renewable energy by 2026

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

Following a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Etana Energy for 43 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy per year, the V&A Waterfront is set to meet 70% of its energy needs with electricity from wind and solar farms operated by independent power producers.

The partnership is expected to commence in early 2026. According to the retail giant, the ten-year PPA represents a key turning point in the implementation of the V&A’s sustainability strategy, which includes a commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2035.

“90% of the waterfront’s emissions come from energy purchases,” V&A executive director of operations André Theys said in a statement.

“The PPA with Etana will make a significant contribution to reducing the carbon footprint in the area.”

With Etana’s solution and the addition of rooftop solar panels, nearly 80% of the waterfront district’s electricity will come from renewable sources.

André adds that this will also benefit the wider community.

The V&A’s sustainability strategy is built on a shared value ecosystem, where everyone on the waterfront – tenants, residents, staff and visitors – works together to make our precinct the best it can be.

“Through proactive innovation, we can demonstrate what is possible and provide evidence that will help others follow in our footsteps. The PPA with Etana Energy is a great example of this approach,” André said.

The company, which visits the V&A every year, says improving energy efficiency is one of the key pillars of its sustainability strategy.

The V&A’s strategy has already reduced carbon emissions by 47%, water consumption by 61% and diverted 62% of all organic and recyclable waste from landfill. It is currently working on a plan to phase out single-use plastics by 2025.

The Etana PPA follows a similar agreement between Growthpoint Properties – which co-owns the V&A Waterfront with the Public Investment Corporation – and Etana Energy. This agreement covers 195 GWh of renewable energy per year, representing 32% of the company’s total annual energy consumption.

A waste-to-energy pyrolysis plant soon to be built on the site will produce synthetic gas for electricity generation, as well as solar energy, while a blackwater treatment plant will produce treated sewage used to flush toilets.

The V&A added that the desalination plant had the potential to make the entire district independent of the City of Cape Town’s water supply.

Completed by Tauhir Ajam

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