Innovation, sustainable design rewarded at Sasol Solar Challenge

Sasol Solar Challenge

The City of Cape Town congratulates the Brunel Solar Team from The Netherlands for winning the 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge. Participants travelled 2 500 km from Johannesburg across five provinces in nine solar-powered vehicles, with the race ending at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Solar car teams from South Africa, Belgium and The Netherlands took part in the race. The City is proud to be a partner of the Sasol Solar Challenge as it promotes the development of sustainable design, efficient energy use, environmental awareness and innovation.

‘As a metro that aims to create an enabling environment for technological investment and innovation to tackle climate change and drive meaningful economic growth, we are so proud to have welcomed the participants as they powered into Cape Town. The awareness that they have created along the route has been invaluable especially as Cape Town and many parts of the world seriously embark on a new world order, less reliant on climate-damaging fossil fuels. These collaborations are absolutely vital. Well done to all involved.

‘The City has a vision to become a climate-resilient, resource-efficient and carbon-neutral city that enables inclusive economic development and healthy, thriving communities and ecosystems.

‘This includes a target of becoming carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2050.  As part of this, the City aims to be a leader in renewable energy and alternative technology solutions through facilitation, promotion, demonstration and connecting with businesses and citizens to find innovative solutions to address the challenges we face.

‘Given our current energy crisis and the fact that a big portion of Cape Town’s carbon emissions comes from transport, the City is particularly focused on clean energy and electric mobility,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Councillor Beverley van Reenen, who welcomed the participants on behalf of the City during the awards ceremony held this morning, 17 September 2022.