Dudu Lushaba
The City of Johannesburg’s Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD) recently hosted a team of experts from the City of Copenhagen to conduct a proof of concept for energy monitoring systems and building management systems at selected Joburg facilities.
This collaboration aligns with the City of Johannesburg’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), adopted by Council in March 2021, which outlines a strategic roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 (Goal 1) and ensure a climate-resilient city (Goal 2) by the same year.
In February 2024, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and the City of Copenhagen (CoC) to establish a framework for collaboration. As members of the C40 Cities network, both cities are committed to sustainable urban development.
The partnership focuses on two key areas: water management (addressing non-revenue water, flooding, and wastewater treatment) and energy efficiency in buildings. It supports four thematic areas of the Joburg Climate Action Plan:
- Goal 1: Climate Mitigation
- Theme 2: Optimised Energy Efficiency in Buildings
- Theme 5: Improved Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
- Goal 2: Climate Adaptation
- Theme 1: Water Security
- Theme 3: Flood and Drought Management
A key priority of this week-long Energy Efficiency Mission was to advance the implementation of the City’s Green Buildings Policy. The policy targets all new public and private buildings to achieve net-zero carbon status by 2030 and seeks to retrofit existing buildings to meet net-zero standards by 2050. This aligns with Copenhagen’s expertise in reducing energy consumption in public buildings, facilitating knowledge-sharing, and providing training.
The Johannesburg-Copenhagen Mission, held from 24 to 28 February 2025, comprised a technical team of consultants from Copenhagen. Their primary focus was to scope and conduct a proof of concept for energy monitoring and building management systems in selected city facilities. This initiative aims to optimise energy usage, reduce operational costs, and improve facility management.
Throughout the week, the team visited various sites, including:
- City Power Head Office (Reuven)
- Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) Martindale Office
- M2 Highway (EMS for streetlights)
- Goudkoppies Wastewater Treatment Plant
- JOSHCO-Tshedzani Social Housing Development
- Randburg Multipurpose Centre
- Joburg Theatre
- Streetlights along Baragwanath Road in Diepkloof
- City Parks Head Office
- Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) Benrose Depot
- Joburg Market
Lebo Molefe, Director of Air Quality and Climate Change at EISD and the City’s coordinator of the Johannesburg-Copenhagen cooperation agreement, highlighted the anticipated benefits of the partnership:
- Energy Savings: Potential reductions in energy consumption and operational costs due to improved energy efficiency measures.
- Optimised Facility Operations: More effective and responsive energy management through real-time monitoring and smart building systems.
- Environmental Impact: A reduced carbon footprint, contributing to the City of Johannesburg’s CAP goals.
Molefe emphasised the value of international partnerships in enhancing local expertise. “Work plans were jointly compiled and submitted to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in December 2024 to unlock funding for the cooperation. The ministry approved these in January 2025, enabling the full implementation of technical exchanges.
“This mission marks the first technical support we are receiving from the City of Copenhagen. Experts have assessed energy management systems in 11 of our buildings and will install systems to improve energy efficiency,” she said.
Anders Christian Lyngtorp, Chief Consultant for Energy and Innovation in the City of Copenhagen, noted that the mission aims to achieve significant energy and carbon reductions while exploring innovative energy solutions.
He added that the initiative has introduced new and improved ideas that were previously unconsidered and that work programmes can be effectively implemented over the next three years.
SOURCED FROM THE JOBURG WEBSITE.
