Etana Energy, Growthpoint Properties and the City of Cape Town have completed South Africa’s first pooled renewable electricity wheeling project across multiple buildings.
Image: Supplied.
Etana Energy, Growthpoint Properties and the City of Cape Town have successfully implemented South Africa’s first pooled wheeling model for renewable electricity across multiple properties within a municipal electricity network.
The initiative marks the next phase of renewable electricity wheeling in Cape Town following the launch of the city’s first wheeling pilot project with Growthpoint and Etana Energy in 2023.
The first pooled renewable electricity allocation was completed in April 2026.
The project enables renewable electricity generated at remote sites to be allocated across multiple buildings connected to Cape Town’s municipal grid, rather than linking supply to individual properties.
For the pilot project, electricity is supplied from the Boston Hydroelectric Plant in the Free State, co owned by Serengeti Energy and Growthpoint Properties.
Etana Energy acts as the exclusive offtaker and licensed electricity trader, wheeling the energy through the Eskom network into Cape Town’s municipal grid.
The arrangement currently powers five Growthpoint properties, including the newly refurbished 36 Hans Strijdom building on Cape Town’s foreshore, occupied by Ninety One, which now sources all of its grid electricity through renewable energy allocations.
Additional participating buildings include Constantia Village Mall, Centennial Place in Century City, Montclare Place in Claremont and Newlands on Main.
Growthpoint plans to expand the renewable energy allocation to more than 30 properties across Cape Town in the coming months, including retail, office, industrial, logistics, healthcare and student accommodation buildings.
Estienne de Klerk, South Africa Chief Executive Officer of Growthpoint Properties, said the pooled wheeling model represents a major step forward in renewable electricity distribution.
“Pooled wheeling is the next logical step, and a significant one at that,” said de Klerk.
“What makes this different is scale and simplicity. By matching renewable electricity supply across a portfolio of buildings rather than property by property, we can deliver clean electricity for our tenants more flexibly, more efficiently and at a competitive price.”
Estienne de Klerk, South Africa Chief Executive Officer of Growthpoint Properties
Image: Supplied.
He said the project builds on more than a decade of sustainability investments by Growthpoint, which installed its first rooftop solar systems in 2011 and has since invested over R1 billion into renewable energy infrastructure.
“None of this happens without the City of Cape Town’s willingness to innovate alongside us, or Etana Energy’s expertise in making the trading and settlement mechanics actually work,” he added.
“The right partners make the difference between a concept and a result. We’re committed to delivering the right results.”
Evan Rice, Chief Executive Officer of Etana Energy, said the initiative demonstrates how renewable electricity can be dynamically allocated across multiple customers while simplifying billing and energy management.
“We are very grateful to the team at the City of Cape Town for their commitment to innovation and their collaborative approach to finding solutions that enable renewable energy adoption in the city,” said Rice.
“It is especially satisfying to be able to supply clean energy to our own head office in Growthpoint’s Newlands on Main building, allowing us to live our values and demonstrate what is possible for businesses in South Africa.”
Evan Rice, Chief Executive Officer of Etana Energy.
Image: Supplied.
The City of Cape Town said the project supports its broader energy strategy and ambitions to position the city as a leading renewable energy hub on the continent.
Xanthea Limberg, the city’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, described the initiative as a significant milestone for Cape Town’s energy transition.
“The City’s pooled wheeling facility represents a decisive leap in advancing the bold vision set out in our Energy Strategy,” said Limberg.
Xanthea Limberg, the city’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy
Image: Supplied.
“Cape Town stands proudly as South Africa’s leading metropolitan championing a just energy transition and pioneering innovative approaches informed by progressive policy shifts.”
She added that the initiative would help secure renewable electricity for businesses and communities while strengthening resilience, reliability and carbon neutrality goals.
“We extend our gratitude to our private sector partners, Etana Energy and Growthpoint Properties, whose collaboration has been vital to bringing this game changing initiative to fruition,” Limberg said.
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