Solar installation will light up Intaka Island

This solar-powered project combines urban development and nature conservation to provide innovative and sustainable solutions that maximise long term educational opportunities for the city.

"The eco-centre's energy efficiency is enhanced by the use of new polystyrene and concrete construction, natural light and ventilation and LED lighting along with SolarWorld's photovoltaic panels and bank of batteries," says Gregor Küpper, MD of SolarWorld Africa.

The world-class spatial design of the multipurpose facility incorporates the physical building set within a conservation area to provide an educational activity centre, function venue, reception area, office space, ablution and kitchen facilities and outdoor sustainable living classroom - according to international green building standards.

Multi-tier collaboration

"This magnificent feat was achieved through a multi-tier collaboration between many stakeholders, donating goods, skills, time and funds, which further reflects the ethos of design thinking which drives World Design Capital Cape Town 2014. We value the contribution of SolarWorld and SMA in this collaborative partnership," says Chris Blackshaw, CEO of the Century City Property Owners Association and a trustee of the Intaka Island Environmental Trust.

The environmental design component of the project secures water purification through the 7.5km canal which pumps water into the wetland and, through gravity flow, makes its way through different ponds of the wetland.

Empowering workers

Through the project, jobs have been created and people empowered and upskilled in sustainable development initiatives. For example, two of the three field rangers were previously security guards responsible for monitoring the entrance to the Intaka Island Nature Reserve. They have successfully completed a number of training courses which has qualified them as guides and empowered them to conduct tours of the Eco-Centre and Intaka Island, as well as to run all the primary school educational programmes such as bird and plant identification.

Two general labourers have also undergone training and obtained their boat skippers licenses to operate the centre's two launch boats which take visitors on a tour of the 8km of canals around Intaka Island. They also provide commentary during the boat rides, sharing relevant information pertaining to both the surrounding natural and urban environments. A third labourer has been employed as a rope hand on the boats and will be undergoing training for his skippers license during the course of the year.