Velddrif water & power
About Us
With a total area of approximately 1,426 hectares, Velddrif is Water & Power is located directly on the west coast of South Africa near the town of Velddrif – in a region particularly challenged by increasing droughts, water shortages, and rising energy demand.
The project has a clear goal to make the region completely energy self-sufficient and water independent – through the combined use of renewable energies, innovative water technology, and intelligent grid management.
Velddrif Water & Power acts as a central energy and water supply platform for the West Coast region and for the adjacent development projects EcoVision Velddrif, GreenLink and KTE.energy produces clean electricity, desalinated drinking and process water, and ensures the stability of regional supply systems – 24/7, 365 days a year.
Our objective is to build a modern, CO₂-neutral energy and water network that serves as a model project for sustainable infrastructure along the entire African coast.
Renewable energy as a foundation
Energy Supply and Technology
Velddrif Water & Power uses clean energy, primarily supplied by the KTE.energy project in the Northern Cape via the GreenLink corridor. This energy comes from large-scale solar and wind farms operating under KTE.energy with up to 20 GW of capacity.
A few photovoltaic systems will be installed locally in Velddrif to provide self-sufficiency, stabilize the grid, and supply small local consumers. However, the actual energy source for operating the seawater desalination plants and the regional power supply is sustainably generated, CO₂-neutral electricity from KTE.energy.
Velddrif Water & Power acts as a regional electricity distributor, distributing the supplied green electricity via a modern smart grid system to households, industry, farms and the Smart City EcoVision Velddrif. The project thus plays a central role in ensuring security of supply and decarbonizing the entire west coast region.
Use and Distribution of Energy
- Operation of seawater desalination plants and water pumping stations
- Feeding into the local and regional distribution grid
- EcoVision smart city project Velddrif
- Supporting energy transmission and grid stability in the GreenLink corridor
Thanks to the efficient interaction between energy import, local PV generation and intelligent grid control, Velddrif achieves Water & Power delivers maximum supply efficiency with a minimal ecological footprint. The entire system is completely CO₂-neutral, scalable, and designed to ensure a stable and sustainable long-term power supply for South Africa’s west coast.
Technical Features
- Local PV generation units for self-supply and grid stabilization
- Electricity procurement via GreenLink from KTE.energy (up to 20 GW system capacity)
- Intelligent energy management system (Smart Grid) for real-time control of grid loads
- Battery storage solutions for peak load coverage and uninterrupted supply
- Automated maintenance and digital monitoring using sensors and drone technology
- 100% CO₂ neutrality in all energy and water operations
Water – Source of Life
Seawater Desalination with Renewable Energy
The core of the project is a large-scale seawater desalination plant, powered entirely by green electricity from KTE.energy. Using state-of-the-art membrane and pressure technology (RO process – reverse osmosis ), seawater is converted into clean drinking and process water.
The planned capacity is up to 400,000 cubic meters per day, which means Velddrif Water & Power can supply water not only to the region but also to industrial parks and neighboring cities.
The water is distributed via a modern pipeline system and covers the following areas
- Drinking water supply for communities and households
- Industrial water for energy and production plants
- Agricultural use in adjacent irrigation areas
- Process water for hydrogen production (electrolysis)
STRATEGIC LINK
Strategic Importance
Velddrif Water & Power plays a key role in South Africa’s western energy and water network. It connects local infrastructure with the country’s supra-regional energy and export axes—particularly via GreenLink.
The project is a strategic link between energy production, industrial use, and urban development. It forms the basis for supplying the emerging Smart City EcoVision Velddrif and ensures that electricity and water will flow green, cheaply and reliably in the future.
Due to its efficiency and scalability, the Velddrif model Water & Power can also be transferred to other coastal regions of Africa – from Namibia to Mozambique.
OUR VISION
Vision and Future
Velddrif Water & Power stands for more than technical achievement—it stands for hope, stability, and the courage to shape the future. The project demonstrates that energy and water don’t have to be finite resources if they are harvested intelligently, locally, and sustainably.
The vision is clear
- A self-sufficient Western Cape that produces sufficient energy and water
- A stable foundation for industrial development along the coast
- A model for sustainable urban and regional development across Africa
Final Thought
Where Energy Meets Water
Velddrif Water & Power is the symbol of a new generation of infrastructure projects – where energy, water, and technology speak a common language. It delivers not just resources, but prosperity, stability, and a future.
THE PROJECT IN NUMBERS
Facts and Figures
- Location
- Velddrif, Western Cape, South Africa
- Function
- Energy and water infrastructure project for the entire West Coast
- Energy generation
- Solar and battery systems
- Water capacity
- Up to 400,000 m³/day of desalinated seawater (by 2040)
- Supply
- Municipalities, Industry, Agriculture, Smart City
- Project phases
- 2025 – 2040
- Jobs
- Up to 2,000 directly and indirectly
- CO₂ balance
- 100% CO₂-neutral in operation
- Connection
- Part of the GreenLink corridor
- Meaning
- Key project for Western energy and water supply
