A collaborative approach to equitable energy access: case study of energy resilient community hubs
Tackling energy poverty to build an inclusive and equitable energy system
In the 2050 Energy Strategy for the City of Cape Town (CoCT), the CoCT foregrounds their vision of an energy system resilient against shocks and stressors, highlighting vulnerable residents as key stakeholders in achieving this vision.
The CoCT recognises their role as government to build this system on equity and inclusion to improve access to safe and affordable energy for all residents. This is the vision the Energy Resilient Community Hubs initiative is aligned to.
Persistent energy poverty, exacerbated by load shedding and frequent electricity outages in some areas, disproportionately affects low-income households and vulnerable residents. Unlike high-income households where residents can afford to transition to alternative energy solutions like solar systems, residents living in backyard dwellings and informal settlements often face prolonged electricity outages, with the project finding that some lasted six months or more.
The primary objective of the Energy Resilient Community Hubs was to create publicly accessible spaces equipped with renewable energy solutions and accessible by all community members. These hubs would enhance the resilience of particularly vulnerable residents in Cape Town.
A vision of public spaces that enhance energy resilience
The project involved several key stakeholders, including the CoCT’s Sustainable Energy Markets Department, the Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities) as the funding partner and facility managers and community representatives. The project was designed in three key phases:
- Development of a selection framework and multi-criteria analysis (MCA) tool: A structured assessment framework was created to evaluate potential locations. The assessment is based on a potential site’s accessibility, social impact and technical feasibility.
- Call for expressions of interest and site selection: Following a city-wide process, four municipal facilities were selected for pre-feasibility studies. These were a sports centre, a clinic, a meat market and a library.
- Pre-feasibility studies and technical assessments: In-depth evaluations were conducted to determine the operational viability and economic impact of the proposed hubs.
While the project initially envisioned spaces where all community members could access energy during periods of load shedding, it became apparent early on in the project that this vision would need to adapt to the reality on the ground.
Dr Simon Sizwe Mayson, the EDP’s Energy & Climate programme lead, explains how the scope of the initiative expanded to address the more severe issue of long-term outages in community spaces. “We realised that the noble objective of a multi-purpose entirely open public facility was unachievable… What we could do is…make whatever it was already doing function better, [make it more] stable.”
Remaining united around the ultimate vision of a resilient public facility meant that every stakeholder had to be agile in responding to the lessons that were emerging from the work.
Tools for building community hubs for a resilient energy system
This work delivers immediate results while also shaping future efforts to use renewable energy to make public facilities more resilient.
The development of the first Energy Resilient Community Hub is now planned, with additional funding having been secured for its establishment. Four pre-feasibility studies were completed that provide detailed implementation pathways for the creation of future community hubs. Additionally, the MCA tool has institutionalised a process that enables the CoCT to prioritise facilities based on their impact potential.
The initiative has strengthened decision-making by integrating technical feasibility with operational realities. Bringing together city officials and facility operators has helped uncover operational constraints and created space for more pragmatic energy solutions. Dr Mayson reflected on the success of this work, saying, “The City champions granted additional budget to implement…through the project creating noise, through people discussing something, and it being elevated in the sights of decision-makers.”
Agility as a capability for adaptive governance
The project demonstrated the need for adaptive leadership in urban energy transitions. While initial plans envisioned multifunctional community hubs for energy resilience, reality dictated a focus on ensuring essential services could reliably function first. This adaptation of what energy resilience looks like in a local context ensures the longevity of this work’s impact.
The next steps for this work include implementing the first Energy Resilient Community Hub based on feasibility findings, expanding the MCA tool’s application across more city-owned facilities and monitoring the long-term performance of the selected pilot site. Emphasising the importance of agility as a capability for adaptive governance, Dr Mayson commented,
A resilient and equitable inclusive energy system is built through partnering
This initiative exemplifies how partnering builds a resilient, equitable and inclusive energy system in Cape Town by 2050. The project offers a scalable model for achieving equitable energy access in urban areas among vulnerable community members, and demonstrates the critical importance of remaining agile and responsive to local realities.
The EDP’s role in facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement throughout this initiative has been instrumental in shifting policy conversations and securing resources for implementation.