South Africa’s first solar-powered desalination plant is due to be commission in the water stressed village of Witsand by the end of October this year.
The project was identified after the DA-led Hessequa municipality established the Hessequa Innovation Helix, a joint venture with Stellenbosch University aimed at implementing innovative solutions for water.
The plant will produce 100 k/l of fresh water per day to meet the requirements of the Witsand village and will be connect to an electricity grid to ensure water supply when there is no solar power.
The plant is estimated to cost R9 million and will be co-funded by the Western Cape Government’s Drought Relief Fund and by the French treasury through a fund dedicated to the implementation of green technology.
Hessequa Executive Mayor Grant Riddles stressed that the municipality is making use of innovative ideas in an attempt to combat the effects of climate change.