The Graaff Electric Lighting Works power station is a decommissioned

Hydro-electric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined an ...

and steam power plant located in Cape Town, South Africa at the site of the

Molteno Dam Molteno Dam is a small but historic dam, on the lower slopes of Table Mountain in Western Cape, South Africa. Still in service, it was established in 1877 and is now located in the suburb of Oranjezicht, Cape Town. Background and construction ...

History

The plant was the first hydro-electric plant in South Africa and first power plant in Cape Town. It was the second electric power plant in South Africa. The city of Kimberly had power to light up its

street lights A street light, light pole, lamp pole, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or path. Similar lights may be found on a railway platform. When urban electric power distribution ...

in 1882. The Graaff Electrice Lighting Works power plant was commissioned by the Cape Town City Council in April 1895 after the completion of the Molteno Reservoir that was constructed to help supply potable water to the rapidly growing city. The plant was named after David de Villers-Graaff who was mayor of Cape Town from 1891 to 1892 and personally funded the construction of the power plant. Costing £75,000 in 1895, equivalent to £8,209,000 (around ZAR143 million) in 2017. Graaff was a big proponent of the then relatively new technology of electricity, especially for public lighting. Demand for electricity was driven by the need for street lights to help reduce crime in the city. The plant had two 150 kW generators which could be driven either by steam or water power. Water to power the generators was supplied from the

Woodhead Reservoir Woodhead reservoir is a man-made lake near the hamlet of Woodhead in Longdendale in north Derbyshire. It was constructed by John Frederick Bateman between 1847 and June 1877 as part of the Longdendale chain to supply water from the River Ethero ...

Table Mountain Table Mountain ( naq, Huriǂoaxa, lit= sea-emerging; af, Tafelberg) is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the ...

. For the twelve months before 30 June 1896 the plant ran for 2590 hours on water power and for 691 hours on coal fired steam power. The plant powered 775 public street lights throughout the city of Cape Town. The plant was decommissioned in 1920 and declared a national monument in 1993.

Current status

The power plant building still stands at the west of the Molteno Dam and is a registered national monument. In 2015 plans were announced to renovate the building so as to house a “Museum for ‘water heritage’”. However officials also stated that since the site sits close to the reservoir it is unlikely that the site will ever be open to the public due to security concerns.

References

External links

* {{Cape Town, history Water supply infrastructure in South Africa Buildings and structures in Cape Town Economy of Cape Town Former power stations in South Africa Graaff family 1895 establishments in the Cape Colony 1920 disestablishments in South Africa Energy infrastructure completed in 1895 19th-century architecture in South Africa