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This synthesis report by GreenCape examines the economic impacts of water scarcity in the Berg Water Management Area (WMA) and evaluates the governance failures that hinder integrated water and economic planning. It projects severe economic losses by 2040, primarily driven by urban water deficits in the City of Cape Town, and recommends institutional reforms, including the establishment of a Regional Water Utility and the adoption of hydro-economic decision-support tools.

This policy brief examines the disconnect between water resource management and economic development planning in the Berg Water Management Area (WMA). It warns of severe economic losses and job deficits by 2040 due to water constraints and advocates for integrated planning, the potential creation of a regional water utility, and increased support from the Western Cape Government to help municipalities manage water augmentation and financing.

This report examines water as a constraint to economic development in the Berg Water Management Area (WMA) of South Africa. It introduces a regional hydro-economic GIS tool and a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) tool for Saldanha Bay to move away from first-come-first-served water allocation toward a system based on socio-economic outcomes. Key findings indicate that while the City of Cape Town dominates the regional economy, municipalities like Swartland, Saldanha Bay, and Bergrivier face significant future development constraints due to water scarcity. The report recommends establishing a regional water utility, creating innovative financing mechanisms for infrastructure, and better integrating water availability into Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the financial and technical feasibility of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on packhouses in the Western Cape, South Africa. It highlights that the primary value of these systems is the replacement of expensive grid electricity with self-generated power during peak daytime cooling and energy-intensive operations, potentially reducing electricity costs by 15%.

This document consists of appendices to a report by GreenCape, detailing stakeholder engagement records, workshop structures and outcomes, and technical data regarding water requirements and economic values in the Berg Water Management Area (WMA) of the Western Cape.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the financial viability of using battery energy storage systems (BESS) for tariff arbitrage in the Western Cape, South Africa. It focuses on leveraging time-of-use (TOU) tariffs to reduce energy costs by charging batteries during off-peak periods and discharging during peak periods, particularly as the decline in loadshedding has left many existing BESS installations underutilised.

This industry brief by GreenCape reviews water and sanitation by-laws across municipalities in the Western Cape, South Africa. It evaluates the completeness and clarity of these local regulations against a 2005 model by-law, highlighting the implications for businesses—particularly water-intensive industries—regarding fees, audits, industrial effluent, and alternative water sources.

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 report by GreenCape evaluates the financial and operational feasibility of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on agricultural packhouses, using a modelled apple packhouse to demonstrate the business case. It highlights that the primary value of these systems comes from replacing expensive grid electricity during peak daytime demand—driven by cooling and packing activities—rather than selling excess power back to the grid. The analysis concludes that while large-scale systems are consistently profitable, smaller installations require favorable financing to be viable.