Val de Vie, South Africa’s highest-ranked ultra-luxury lifestyle estate located in the Cape Winelands aspires to go “off of the grid” in terms of electricity supply eventually.
Ryk Neethling, the marketing director for the estate said it would be ideal for all of its operations to be off-grid but this would take time. He spoke following news that the estate had applied for rights so it could build a solar power plant with 3600 photovoltaic (PV) modules to generate 1 MV of electricity. Neethling said this would be enough to power communal buildings and security. However, it would take time before Val de Vie had the infrastructure in place to power all of the 2 000 residential units across its spectacular grounds.
The world-famous estate which lies in Paarl, boasts vineyards, polo fields, equestrian areas, the Pearl Valley golf course, natural fynbos and other stunning features. It contains neighbourhoods such as Pearl Valley, Gentlemen’s Estate, Polo Village, River Club, Reserve, Vines, Acres, and the Evergreen Val de Vie retirement village.
Ten days ago the estate sold out 42 apartments at R50 000 per m2 in a few hours.
“We are impressed that sectional title is so popular across our Cape Winelands,” Neethling said.
Val de Vie did manage to go off the grid in terms of water supply during Cape Town’s day zero water crisis in 2018.
Alistair Anderson