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The document identifies that while high upfront capital costs limit the uptake of rooftop solar PV, several innovative green finance options exist for South African businesses. These include commercial bank funding (asset finance, term loans), Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), Pay As You Save (PAYS), power purchase agreements (PPAs), and online impact investing platforms. It highlights that solar PV is technically mature, with payback periods typically between 3-8 years and a lifespan of up to 20 years. The brief also details specific offerings from banks like Absa, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and FNB, and lists tax and grant incentives such as 100% accelerated depreciation and the Green Tourism Incentive Programme.

The document details a partnership where Siyavana Solutions refurbishes end-of-life fuel pumps from Shell service stations to be resold back to Shell. This industrial symbiosis project diverted 16 tonnes of waste from landfills, including pumps, hoses, and computer boards, while generating up to R5 million in additional revenue and creating 9 permanent jobs.

The document details a project by GreenCape and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, supported by the City of Cape Town, to harness entrepreneurial innovation in response to the 2015-2018 drought. The central mechanism was a 'shark tank-style' competition designed to identify and support water-tech SMMEs, providing a platform for networking and business development to build long-term economic and climate resilience.

The Atlantis Renewable Energy Challenge (AREC) is an annual non-curriculum inter-school competition for junior and high school students in Atlantis, South Africa. Launched in 2016 by GreenCape and the City of Cape Town, the programme aims to combat high youth unemployment by exposing learners to the renewable energy sector and the opportunities provided by the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ). The competition has evolved from a high-school pilot to include junior schools and diverse themes—ranging from wind and solar energy to community murals—to engage students across various disciplines, including the arts. By 2019, participation grew to 389 students from 14 schools. The programme focuses on fostering creativity, teamwork, and career guidance to prepare youth for a changing global economy and the local growth of green technology manufacturing.

The Enterprise Development Programme (EDP), initiated by GreenCape in 2017, aims to foster green economic growth in Atlantis, South Africa, by converting waste streams into business opportunities. Building on material flow analyses from the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), the EDP provides training and incubation to entrepreneurs to create viable business plans for waste diversion. While early phases focused on start-ups, later iterations shifted toward adding value to established businesses to reduce inherent start-up risks. Key lessons include the need for product development specialists and the challenge of high costs associated with imported recycling technologies.

The project reclaimed 13,000 m3 of concrete and 5,000 m3 of asphalt for on-site reuse, saving R3.1 million in landfill airspace. While on-site crushing would have saved 36% compared to virgin materials, moving the crusher to Philippi increased costs by 20% over virgin sources due to haulage. Technical findings recommend SANS 3001 testing, a grading modulus of 2.2-2.3, and crushing to 37 mm for G5 material to improve workability and CBR values.

The document describes a partnership between the University of Cape Town’s d-school, GreenCape, and the City of Cape Town to introduce design thinking to youth. It focuses on a workshop for 180 Grade 6 learners from Wesfleur Primary School in Atlantis, using the challenge of saving water during a drought to teach human-centred problem solving. The study concludes that while young children can engage with the process, the approach is most effective for students in Grades 10-12.

Virgin Active reduced water usage in its Western Cape branches by 62% through a R24 million investment in technological and behavioural interventions, including low-flow fixtures, greywater treatment, and the closure of high-use facilities. These measures resulted in monthly municipal savings of R1,243,496 and a total payback period of 20 months.

The document explores the use of industrial symbiosis to divert wood waste from landfills and reduce reliance on virgin timber in Cape Town. It details how the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) matches businesses to exchange under-utilised resources, such as using sawdust for brick manufacturing or refurbishing old pallets. These circular economy practices are presented as a means to build resilience against resource depletion and climate change while creating jobs and reducing the carbon footprint of local industries.

The report finds that while there is a general availability of skilled labour in Atlantis, many qualified residents commute to Cape Town, leaving local businesses to report skills shortages. It argues that the future of the A-SEZ lies in medium-sized, value-adding green businesses rather than mega-factories, as the utility-scale renewable energy market has been hindered by poor government implementation of the REIPPPP. The audit identifies a critical gap in 'soft skills' and STEM competencies, alongside systemic failures in the local education sector, particularly at West Coast College, which serves non-local students more than residents. Recommendations include a 'whole of society' approach to education, the establishment of a community ICT centre, and targeted bursaries for high-tech tooling training.

The report examines South Africa's nascent electric vehicle (EV) market, highlighting a strong existing automotive manufacturing base that could be leveraged for EV production. While global EV sales are growing exponentially, South Africa faces significant barriers including high import duties, lack of policy certainty, and a lack of affordable products for the middle class. Key opportunities are identified in electric bus manufacturing, lithium-ion battery production, and passenger vehicle exports. The document also details the role of the Western Cape as a greentech hub and outlines the transition from the Automotive Production & Development Programme (APDP) to the South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM) 2021-2035.

The report identifies a total available energy services market in South Africa valued at approximately R125 billion by 2035, driven by rising electricity costs and falling technology prices. It highlights growth in rooftop solar PV, energy storage, and energy efficiency, while detailing the shift from a single-operator utility model to a distributed generation model. Key emerging opportunities include commercial off-the-shelf systems, project bundling, and building modernisation, supported by innovative finance mechanisms like PACE and a growing framework of municipal small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) regulations.

The document details the creation of the ASEZ-CSN, a representative community forum designed to connect the local workforce and businesses in Atlantis to opportunities within the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) for Green Technologies. It outlines the election process managed by GreenCape, the eight sectors represented in the network, and how the structure aims to foster a 'social license to operate' through transparent communication and skills development.

The report examines the South African utility-scale renewable energy market, focusing on the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and the 2018 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). It highlights the transition from a coal-dominated energy mix toward wind and solar, detailing the economic impact of the REIPPPP, emerging opportunities in municipal procurement and project refinancing, and the role of the Western Cape as a greentech hub.

The report highlights the role of water scarcity and climate change as primary drivers for the adoption of agricultural technology (agtech) in South Africa. It identifies significant growth opportunities in precision agriculture, undercover farming, renewable energy, and conservation agriculture, particularly within the Western Cape's high-value export crop sector. The document also outlines the regulatory landscape, including water restrictions, carbon tax, and land reform policies, while providing a directory of green finance resources.

The clothing and textile industry in Cape Town faces significant risks from water scarcity, energy instability (load shedding), and a linear 'take, make and waste' business model. To build resilience, the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) facilitates resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis, helping businesses divert waste from landfills and reduce water consumption. Key interventions include water pinch analysis, borehole installation, and the adoption of solar PV. The document argues that facilitated, impartial programs like WISP are strategic assets for urban resilience by providing rapid adaptation and trusted information during crises.

The South African waste sector is transitioning toward a resource-efficient economy driven by legislative changes and increasing landfill costs. While disposal remains dominant—with 90% of waste landfilled according to 2011 data—significant opportunities exist in the Western Cape for the beneficiation of organics, e-waste, plastics, and builder's rubble. The report highlights the City of Cape Town as a primary hub for these opportunities due to its high waste generation and the highest landfill gate fees in the country. Key drivers include the implementation of Industry Waste Management Plans (IndWMPs) and provincial organic waste diversion targets, while barriers include low household separation rates and the high cost of hazardous waste licensing.

The report identifies significant investment opportunities in South Africa's urban water sector across four markets: commercial and industrial, residential, new property developments, and municipalities. It highlights a projected 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030, with severe shortages expected in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape. In the Berg River management area, this deficit could cost the region over R146 billion and 650,000 jobs per year by 2040. Key opportunities include water-efficient technologies, wastewater reuse, desalination, and non-revenue water reduction. The report also details the regulatory environment, including the National Water Act and municipal by-laws, and emphasizes the Western Cape's role as a greentech hub.

The Berg Water Management Area is a constrained system where water requirements are projected to exceed yield by 2019. A hydro-economic analysis indicates that by 2040, the water supply deficit could cost the region over R146 billion and nearly 650,000 jobs annually, with the City of Cape Town bearing the highest opportunity costs. The report identifies systemic failures in current top-down planning and financing, recommending the establishment of a Regional Water Utility and the use of multi-criteria decision tools to prioritize 'smart' water use over first-come, first-served allocations.

Concor Infrastructure recycled 77,000 m3 of concrete waste during the expansion of the City Deep container terminal, exceeding a 24% landfill diversion target by recovering all waste. The project utilised High volume pulverized flue ash concrete (HVPFAC) and geopolymer concrete, resulting in R10.8 million in virgin material cost savings and R23 million in avoided landfill gate fees.