Resilience Energy

Public schools in South Africa face growing energy insecurity, driven by load shedding and rising electricity costs, which have increased by over 300% in the past decade. While solar photovoltaic (PV) offers a reliable, cost-saving alternative, the high upfront cost and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)-based pricing structures remain out of reach for most schools. In response, the Western Cape Education Department initiated a rollout of 19 solar PV systems since early 2024, prioritizing high-risk, Eskom-supplied areas. Yet, with over 1,400 schools across the province and infrastructure challenges such as asbestos roofing, a scalable and inclusive solution is urgently needed.

No-Cost Solar Energy Solution

Resilience Energy, a Cape Town and Johannesburg-based energy services company, proposes a no-cost solar solution for schools, many of which are underresourced, and a disrupted energy supply affects their educational function. Leveraging recent changes to electricity wheeling regulations in the Western Cape, this model enables each school to host a 200kVA solar PV system—50kVA allocated to the school and 150kVA fed into the municipal grid. Resilience Energy finances, installs, and maintains the system for twenty years, with an option to transfer ownership to the state through a Public-Private Partnership. This solution allows schools not to pay any upfront costs or usage fees for the solar electricity generated on-site. It thus offers a win-win-win model: The schools benefit from a free and reliable energy supply. Excess energy production, particularly during non-school hours, adds clean energy to the municipal grid, increasing the overall supply and resiliency, particularly if replicated and scaled up. With the help of upfront funding, Resilience Energy can cover all its investment costs over time and sustain a profitable, high-impact business.

Measurable Impact

The model helps schools save up to 80% on electricity in summer and 40% in winter, while ensuring uninterrupted operation during load shedding. Independent LTE Wi-Fi routers enable real-time energy monitoring, with no interference from school networks. By redirecting savings into core education needs, schools strengthen both learning environments and operational resilience. Community use of school facilities can also be extended, supporting wider social development.

Why This Model Works

• Low daytime electricity demand aligns with solar generation
• Ample roof space makes installations practical and efficient
• No EIA or complex approvals needed for most installations
• 6–8 year cost recovery for Resilience Energy at no cost to schools

Funding Requirements

The pilot phase targets 30 schools and requires funding of 3.8 million Euro. The full rollout plan aims to supply over 600 schools across the Western Cape with PV panels and requires funding of 50 million Euro over a period of five years.

This full-scale rollout enables the generation of over 100 MW of clean energy and 2 million Euros in annual cost savings for public schools. With sufficient support, this initiative can redefine how South African schools access and benefit from clean energy. It offers not just cleaner power, but stronger schools, smarter budgets, and more resilient communities.