Most of the carbon dioxide released from energy use within the province comes from electricity production, followed by petrol and diesel use. Industry is the largest user of electricity in the province, followed by the residential sector and then commerce and government.

Figure 1: Carbon footprint for Western Cape energy use by fuel (2004)

The Western Cape buys most of its electricity from Eskom, much of which comes from coal generated energy plants elsewhere in the country (predominantly from Mpumalanga). A portion of our electricity is generated locally and distributed nationally, including energy from the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant, the Acacia Gas Turbines, the Palmiet Pumped Storage Facility and a very small amount from the Klipheuwel Demonstration Wind Farm. The City of Cape Town also produces a small amount of electricity through the Steenbras Pumped Storage facility and local gas turbines.

Although Eskom has line-strengthening plans in place to help secure electricity for the Western Cape, there are a range of other options that may be preferable, including diversifying the supply mix and broadening the energy generation options.

Energy Consumption

In 2004, approximately 250 million GJ of energy was consumed in the Western Cape. By 2020, if the economy continues to grow as expected, it is predicted that the demand will grow to 375 million GJ, unless energy consumption patterns change drastically.

As shown in Figure 3, the industrial and transport sectors are currently the largest energy consumers. Combined, these two sectors account for 80 % of the total energy used in the province.

The transport sector is heavily dependent on petrol, while the industrial sector is the largest electricity consumer, and the second largest petrol consumer.

Figure 2: Western Cape Energy Consumption by Sector (2004)

Currently the Western Cape uses a range of fuels to fulfill the energy requirements of its people and industry. The greatest final energy demand is for liquid fuels due mainly to their use in the transport sector, but also in industry, commerce, agriculture, mining and the residential sector. The next major final energy carrier is electricity followed by coal and relatively small amounts of wood.

The liquid fuel mix is dominated by petrol (mainly used in the transport sector) followed by large quantities of diesel (which is used in sectors other than transport as well) with far smaller quantities of fuel oil, LPG and kerosene (paraffin).

Figure 3: Total Energy Consumption in (2004)

Industry (47% of total consumption)
This sector is the largest consumer of electricity and the second largest consumer of other fuels after transport.

Transport (35% of total consumption)
The majority of the liquid fuels consumed in the Western Cape are used in the transport sector.

Figure 4: Energy use by transport sub-sector for the Western Cape (2004)

The transport sector energy demand is largely dominated by private passenger use, with most of the remaining energy demand being made up by the public passenger transport sector.

Residential (8% of total consumption)

Most of the population lives in urban settlements with the low-income sector making up the largest part. While over 85 % of the urban population live in electrified households, only 65 % of rural households are electrified.

Figure 5: Energy use by sub-sector for the Western Cape residential sector (2004)

The urban medium-high income sector is the highest user of energy in the province although the urban low-income households are far more numerous. This is due to the high-energy use in medium-high income households compared to low-income households. Rural households make up a far smaller share due mainly relatively small share of rural households in the province.

Agriculture (5% of total consumption)
The Western Cape is rich in agricultural and fisheries reserves and is thus one of the most important food baskets of South Africa.

Figure 6: Energy use by fuel for the Western Cape agriculture sector (2004)

Diesel is the most important fuel in agriculture but electricity is growing in importance because of the increase of mechanisation.

Commerce and Government (4% of total consumption)
The commercial sector consists of office buildings, hotels, financial institutions, shops, educational facilities, hospital and places of entertainment.

Total electricity use in this sector was split as follows: VAC 43%, lighting 26% (1/3 incandescent 2/3 fluorescent), heating 8%, refrigeration 5.8%, water heating 3%, cooking 0.6%, and other 12.8%.

Figure 7: Energy use by end use for the Western Cape commercial and government sectors (2004)

Lighting and HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) make up most of the energy use in the commercial sector. Government buildings (local, provincial and national) generally have the same energy characteristics as commercial buildings.

Mining (2% of total consumption)
The Western Cape is not a mineral rich province, with mainly open cast mining and heavy beach sand operations.

Figure 8: Energy use by fuel for the Western Cape mining sector (2004)

The main fuels used in mining were electricity followed closely by diesel.

Source of information: Sustainable Energy Strategy and Programme of Action for the Western Cape (2008)

The Clean Energy Governance Programme is supported by the British High Commission till 2010 in partnership with Sustainable Energy Africa and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. The programme aims to develop sustainable energy policy to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency practices in the Western Cape Province