Hartenbos wastewater treatment works & microgrid demonstrates how embedded solar PV, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and advanced grid control systems can safeguard essential public services. By enabling islanding during outages, the system ensures uninterrupted treatment operations even under severe loadshedding conditions.
GreenCape, in partnership with the Western Cape Government Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP), has published a case study which demonstates how municipalities can build energy resilience at their waste water treatment facilities. The case study highlights that:
- Waste water treatment works (WWTWs) are among the largest municipal energy users, with water supply and wastewater treatment together accounting for ~17% of total municipal electricity consumption. Targeting these facilities for energy efficiency and renewable energy interventions offers high-impact opportunities to stabilise operations, cut costs, reduce emissions and shield critical services from loadshedding.
- The Hartenbos system integrates 4 536 solar modules (2.112 MVA installed capacity), ~4.5 MWh of battery storage and a new 11 kV substation. The hybrid microgrid design supports resilience, energy cost reduction and future capacity expansion to 5 MVA.
- The Hartenbos WWTW project demonstrates how embedded solar PV, BESS and advanced grid control systems can safeguard essential public services. By enabling islanding during outages, the system ensures uninterrupted treatment operations even under severe loadshedding conditions.
- Although the capital investment is significant, (the reported project cost is in the R100 – R120 million range), projects of this kind can reduce long-term energy expenditure by lowering maximum demand
charges, cutting diesel consumption and enabling limited export of surplus electricity back into the
municipal grid.
The case study, which highlights the case study of the Hartnebos WWTW project, highlights clear market opportunities for:
- Engineering firms, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors,
- BESS suppliers; and
- Service providers delivering control systems, operations and maintenance (O&M) and plant
optimisation in the waste water sector.
To access the full case study, click on the PDF link at the top of this post.