Cape Town – As the Church of the Resurrection celebrates 60 years of commitment to the Bonteheuwel community, it has been selected as the site for the first-ever Community Renewable Energy Solar Hub.
Backed by the ClimateWorks Foundation, the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) is rolling out this pilot initiative to demonstrate how faith groups can play a role in South Africa’s just energy transition (JET).
The church and its local community are collaboratively crafting solutions driven by renewable energy, with the goal of scaling these efforts across Southern Africa.
Selected from a pool of three shortlisted faith centers, the Church of the Resurrection is acknowledged for its enduring status as a trustworthy pillar in Bonteheuwel.
Its soup kitchen, which provides meals for approximately 1400 individuals each week, is set to be one of the initial projects benefiting from the renewable energy hub, significantly reducing the church’s operational costs.
By supplying renewable energy infrastructure to a faith institution, this initiative highlights the vital role faith organizations play in tackling local challenges while bringing people together around practical solutions to climate and energy crises.
“This momentous event signifies a significant achievement for us in realizing SAFCEI’s vision of ‘people of faith caring for the living Earth,’” remarks Francesca de Gasparis, Executive Director of SAFCEI.
“We have emphasized that for JET to be successful, it must align with South Africa’s specific needs.
“For it to be equitable, JET must involve communities and meet their needs.
“Collaborating with the Bonteheuwel community on this project is truly a dream come true.”
Beyond just a renewable energy initiative, it seeks to foster local knowledge and engagement.
Alongside the solar hub, local residents and faith leaders will engage in training, workshops, and ongoing discussions to demonstrate what a community-driven energy transition looks like in practice, creating a model that can be adapted by other faith-based organizations and community groups across South Africa and beyond.
“Our aim is to set up solar hubs throughout Africa, as much of the continent still lacks electricity access or, like South Africa, grapples with energy poverty due to high electricity costs,” explains de Gasparis.
“A solar hub within a faith community can act as a central point for the locality to access renewable energy resources, enhancing climate resilience.”
“This project arrives during our 60th anniversary, giving us another opportunity to innovate,” shares Father Oswald Cloete from the Church of the Resurrection.
“People come here seeking solace, to worship, and to connect, making this initiative deeply resonate with our Christian beliefs about the Earth and the blessings given to us by God.”
The ceremonial groundbreaking signifies the start of the project installation phase, with the construction of 43 620W solar panels expected to extend through 2026 before the hub is operational.
Ongoing engagement efforts, stakeholder visits, and training workshops will continue throughout the project, equipping local residents and faith leaders with the knowledge and skills to support community-led renewable energy efforts.
“This initiative aims to empower the local community not only by providing energy access but also through education and active involvement,” adds de Gasparis.
The Bonteheuwel hub is part of SAFCEI’s No Faith in False Solutions campaign and is designed to serve as a model for similar projects throughout Southern Africa.
“This is one of our most ambitious community projects to date. It offers a chance to learn alongside the Bonteheuwel community while establishing a framework that can benefit many other communities across Southern Africa,” concludes David Munene, Chair of the SAFCEI Board.
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