City Power blazing the trail with green energy
The solar high masts are expected to be rolled out in December.
City Power is partnering with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to procure and roll out 15 000 solar water geysers to needy homes in Johannesburg as the multiparty government embraces green energy.
The DMRE will be supplying the city with the first batch of 15 000 solar water geysers, at no cost to the city.
The MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Michael Sun, said: “I am proud of the progress made by City Power in proactively finding green energy solutions and keeping to the promises we have made to our residents.
“CEO of City Power, Tshifularo Mashava, and her team are crafting a blueprint to start rolling this out to the neediest homes in the city of gold.”
City Power will develop criteria for the beneficiaries and prioritise orphanages, hospices, old age homes and animal shelters. The implementation of the solar geyser project also creates an opportunity for DMRE to train City Power technicians, community-based electricians and SMMEs and ensure that these opportunities be offered to the communities where the solar water geysers will be installed.
Moreover, City Power will soon be launching a solar-powered high masts lighting programme in vulnerable areas, prone to spurts of crime during load-shedding.
“We are determined to improve public lighting and safety in our communities. It’s under the veil of darkness that crime increases. As a matter of urgency City Power will be rolling out solar-powered high mast lighting in crime-prone areas.
“Our first port-of-call will be Eldorado Park and areas like Soweto, Doornkop and Orange Farm where Eskom is the main supplier of electricity and load-shedding plunges these vulnerable communities into the dark,” Sun said.
The solar high masts are expected to be rolled out in December and will also be fitted in areas where there is no provision for electricity. The tenders for the solar-powered high masts lighting programme and the fitment of solar panels at City Power Reuven headquarters are currently being evaluated.
“We refuse to simply talk about embracing green energy solutions. This multiparty government does what it says and the good news doesn’t just end there. City Power has partnered with the Joburg Markets to fit the market roofs with solar panels so the market will move to green and renewable energy. With the electricity saved there, we will feed back into the grid for areas in need,” noted Sun.
