The University of Cape Town is deeply committed to advancing a cleaner energy future, guided by its Vision 2030 goal to “unleash human potential to create a fair and just society” and the Khusela Ikamva – Secure the Future sustainability initiative launched in 2024. In line with its pledge to divest from fossil fuels and transition toward a low-carbon institution, UCT actively fosters research, partnerships, and capacity-building that promote renewable energy adoption and energy efficiency. Through its world-class research centres such as the Energy Systems Research Group, Power Futures Lab, and the Future Water Institute, UCT engages collaboratively with government, local businesses, and communities to co-develop practical, inclusive clean-energy solutions. This integrated approach reflects UCT’s broader commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 7 and SDG 13—by ensuring that the university’s expertise and innovation directly support a more sustainable, resilient South African energy landscape.

Public forum on clean fuel / green hydrogen project

• In April 2024, UCT’s Catalysis Institute, University of Cape Town (in the Department of Chemical Engineering) issued an invitation to a public forum on the “GreenQUEST” project: a green liquefied fuel gas created via captured CO₂ + green hydrogen, aimed at households and broader energy transition.
• While this is not exactly “industrial energy-efficiency consultancy”, it is a clean-energy technology development activity, relevant to industry and households, and shows UCT engaging in clean energy solutions.

Academic networking event (July 2024) exploring utility-scale renewable energy socio-economic dynamics

• A collaborative event between UCT’s Power Futures Lab (UCT GSB) and other universities, held in mid-2024, bringing together academics, practitioners and industry participants to discuss renewable energy deployment and just-energy-transition issues. The focus of the gathering was to critically explore the socio-economic, governance, and developmental impacts of utility-scale renewable energy projects, particularly within the framework of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET). The event served as a platform to strengthen connections among stakeholders in the renewable energy sector and to deepen understanding of the research being conducted across disciplines. Participants engaged in dynamic discussions, facilitated by Alison McCallum, that examined the various approaches to addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges in the sector. The sessions also provided space to identify emerging research themes and align academic efforts with practical challenges on the ground.
• This demonstrates UCT engaging with industry stakeholders in the clean energy field, aiming to improve renewable energy socio-economic dynamics.

UCT has contracted various engineering and solar PV companies to assist with several solar PV installations completed on five buildings across its various campuses.