Search Climate Insights Directory

This case study examines how Mediclinic deployed on-site solar PV at its Durbanville Hospital using a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to achieve decarbonisation goals without upfront capital investment.

This case study describes the implementation of a hybrid solar PV and battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Hartenbos wastewater treatment works (WWTW) in the Western Cape. The project aims to ensure continuous operation during loadshedding, reduce municipal peak demand, and lower reliance on diesel backup.

This case study examines how Mediclinic Southern Africa (MCSA) implemented water-saving technologies, specifically laundry wastewater recycling plants, across its hospitals to ensure operational continuity amidst water scarcity.

This case study examines how the City of Cape Town (CCT) and GreenCape adapted green economy skills training in Atlantis to ensure continuity during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020. The initiative focused on building economic resilience for vulnerable youth and residents by transitioning to digital platforms and adjusting technical training to meet health protocols.

This case study by GreenCape describes the 'Flexible Packaging Solutions Showcase', an initiative by the South African Plastics Pact to identify and promote recyclable alternatives to problematic flexible plastic packaging, specifically targeting flexible polypropylene (PP) and multilayer multi-polymer structures.

This case study examines the economic and operational impact of adopting precision drone spraying for an 80-hectare smallholder sugarcane cooperative in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Comparing drone services to traditional tractor-mounted boom sprayers, the document details significant reductions in costs, chemical use, and labour, alongside increases in crop yield and sugar content.

This case study examines the use of green technology and indoor vertical farming for urban food production in Cape Town, focusing on the operations of Mushroom Guru (Pty) Ltd.

This case study examines a six-month post-investment support pilot project for green small, medium and microsized enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa, implemented by the Green Outcomes Fund (GOF) in collaboration with the Anglo American Foundation (AAF). The project identifies critical barriers to scaling green businesses—specifically recruitment, professionalisation, and marketing—and tests targeted interventions to move SMMEs into their next growth phase.

This case study describes a circular economy initiative by sewing thread manufacturer ACA Threads to recover and reuse polypropylene spools and cones, resulting in financial savings, landfill diversion, and social investment.

This case study describes a partnership facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) between waste management company Enviroserv and ComboTimber Structures to divert wood pallets from landfills and remanufacture them for reuse.

This case study by GreenCape details the lessons learned from the first resilience analysis of the City of Cape Town's capital infrastructure portfolio. Supported by UK Pact in early 2022, the project aimed to understand how capital investments impact climate resilience by implementing a tagging mechanism in the City's SAP Project Portfolio Management system. The report identifies gaps in project tagging, the importance of a consolidated project database, and the need for increased awareness among project managers regarding how basic service delivery contributes to climate resilience.

This policy brief by GreenCape explores 'resilient urbanism' through a 'data and domain' approach, which combines community-led enumeration (shared data) with asset-based community participation (participatory co-design). Using a case study of the Alternative Service Delivery Unit (ASDU) in Cape Town's informal settlements, the document demonstrates how this dual approach can identify community priorities and implement sustainable, alternative service delivery models, specifically in the energy sector.

This case study examines the role of electronic waste (e-waste) repair and redistribution in South Africa, focusing on The Appliance Bank as a model for integrating circular economy principles with social upliftment. It highlights how diverting e-waste from landfills through refurbishment can create jobs for unemployed men and provide affordable technology to low-income communities.

This case study describes a design thinking workshop for primary school learners in Cape Town, conducted by the University of Cape Town’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design Thinking (d-school) in partnership with GreenCape and the City of Cape Town (CoCT). The initiative aimed to build resilience by equipping youth with human-centred problem-solving skills to address real-world challenges, specifically focusing on water conservation during a drought crisis.

This case study examines the implementation of a hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) system with Lithium-ion (Li-ion) storage at UV Tooling CC, a parts manufacturer in Cape Town, to mitigate the impact of systemic loadshedding on industrial production.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the 'Electric-vehicles-as-a-service' (EVaaS) model as a strategy to accelerate the transition of commercial fleets, specifically light delivery vehicles (LDVs), to electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa. It identifies key financial and operational barriers to EV adoption and proposes a bundled subscription model to mitigate high upfront costs and infrastructure requirements.

This municipal briefing by GreenCape describes the application of smart water systems—sensor-based networks for real-time data collection and analysis—within South African municipalities. It outlines the technical layers of these networks, provides case studies from Cape Agulhas, Saldanha Bay, and Bergrivier municipalities, and offers a checklist for municipalities to evaluate their readiness for such technology. The document also compares the long-term costs of smart ultrasonic meters versus conventional mechanical meters and lists funding and support resources for water infrastructure projects.

This municipal briefing by GreenCape outlines the implementation of smart water systems in South Africa, detailing their layered architecture, case studies from three municipalities, and a checklist for procurement. It specifically compares the long-term costs and benefits of ultrasonic smart meters versus conventional mechanical meters.

This case study by GreenCape examines the role of sustainable urban agriculture (UA) in building socio-economic resilience in the City of Cape Town, focusing on the transition of Nazeer Sonday's Vegkop Polyculture Farm from intensive hydroponic tomato production to a regenerative, diversified farming model.

This case study examines the Darling Green Solar Project in Swartland Municipality, demonstrating how short-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) and the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) can be used to integrate renewable energy into municipal grids while maintaining financial flexibility.