The City of Cape Town is transforming landfill waste into electricity through an innovative waste to energy project at the Coastal Park Landfill site near Muizenberg.
The city has invested about R93 million in the facility, which captures methane gas produced from decomposing organic waste and converts it into electricity capable of powering more than 4,300 homes. The initiative is aimed at reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions while generating renewable energy.
Methane, one of the most damaging greenhouse gases released from landfills, is extracted through a network of vertical and horizontal gas wells embedded deep within the waste. The gas is then channelled to a processing plant where impurities and condensate are removed before it is used to fuel generators that produce electricity.
The Coastal Park project currently generates about 1.3 gigawatt hours of electricity each month. Part of the power produced is supplied to the grid, while the remainder supports operations at the landfill facility itself.
Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Waste Management Grant Twigg said the project converts what was previously an environmental liability into a productive energy resource. The initiative helps protect the environment, lowers emissions and reduces the city’s reliance on electricity purchased from Eskom.
City officials also disclosed that reduced methane emissions have already generated carbon credits worth approximately R36 million, strengthening the financial sustainability of the project. Encouraged by the results, the city plans to expand the initiative with an additional investment of R82 million to increase energy production and environmental benefits.