Johannesburg Mall Unveils State-of-the-Art Solar Plant ☀️
From left to right: Ed Young (One Stop Solar), Jacques Roets (Nuvo Energy), Kavi Naidoo (Signet Terrace) and Sakkie van Wijk (Solarise Africa) cut the ribbon at today’s Signet Terrace Shopping Centre commissioning and inauguration of its solar plant.
Signet Terrace Shopping Centre
Unveils State-of-the-Art Solar Power Plant
The new installation embraces renewable energy in retail and advances sustainable shopping.
The Signet Terrace Shopping Centre solar power plant boasts a total capacity of 975.7 kWp solar PV, just under 1 MWp.
It is expected to generate 136 MW of clean energy annually, achieving an impressive 66% reduction in kWh consumption over the plant’s lifetime.
With an estimated R53 million in savings over the contract period, the solar power plant demonstrates the potential for cost-effective energy solutions that benefit both the environment and the bottom line.
Just under 1 MWp of solar PV capacity was installed at Signet Terrace Shopping Centre as part of its commitment to be a sustainable shopping destination.
Johannesburg, 13 June 2023 – Signet Terrace Shopping Centre today announced the commissioning and inauguration of its cutting-edge solar power plant, marking a significant step towards sustainable energy consumption and reducing carbon emissions. This remarkable project is the result of a collaborative effort between Signet Terrace Shopping Centre, Solarise Africa, Nuvo Energy Africa, and One Stop Solar, each playing a vital role in the successful implementation of this ground-breaking initiative.
The Signet Terrace Shopping Centre solar power plant boasts a total capacity of 975.7 kWp solar PV, solidifying its position as a trailblazer in renewable energy solutions within the retail industry. By embracing this clean energy source, the shopping centre is projected to achieve an impressive 66% reduction in kWh consumption over the plant’s lifetime, significantly contributing to a greener future. In the first month alone, the solar power plant is expected to achieve a remarkable 30% reduction in kWh usage, setting a remarkable precedent for other shopping centres to follow suit.
Kavi Naidoo, Spokesperson for Signet Terrace Shopping Centre, expressed excitement about the project, stating, “We are thrilled to unveil the Signet Terrace Shopping Centre solar power plant, a testament to our commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. This installation allows us to generate a substantial portion of our electricity needs through renewable energy sources, significantly reducing our carbon footprint while ensuring long-term cost savings.”
As part of the focus on green energy, the solar installation also includes a 22kW Enelion Vertica EV Charger that powers two EV charging bays. “We are proud to introduce EV charging bays powered by our solar installation,” continued Naidoo. “This addition demonstrates our commitment to sustainable transportation options and provides a convenient solution for electric vehicle owners visiting our shopping centre.”
Sakkie van Wijk, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Solarise Africa, emphasised the significance of this project from a financing perspective, saying, “This project showcases the feasibility and financial viability of renewable energy solutions for commercial properties. By replacing 29% of the shopping centre’s electricity consumption, the Signet Terrace solar power plant will contribute to the reduction of approximately 32,720 tons of CO2 emissions over the contract period. This achievement is not only a significant step towards combating climate change but also a testament to the positive effects of renewable energy adoption.”
Jan-Hendrik Kruger, Managing Director of Nuvo Energy Africa, spoke about the construction process, saying, “We are proud to have been part of the construction and implementation of the Signet Terrace Shopping Centre solar power plant. This project involved meticulous planning, state-of-the-art technology, and a strong focus on environmental sustainability. We believe this solar power plant will serve as a shining example to other developers looking to integrate renewable energy solutions into their projects.”
Ed Young, CEO of One Stop Solar, applauded the partnership. “The successful collaboration between Signet Terrace Shopping Centre, Solarise Africa, Nuvo Energy Africa, and One Stop Solar has enabled the development of a ground-breaking solar power plant. This project sets a compelling example for other businesses seeking to embrace clean energy.”
The Signet Terrace Shopping Centre solar power plant is expected to generate 136 MWh of clean energy annually, bringing a new era of sustainable power to the retail industry. With an estimated R53 million in savings over the contract period, the solar power plant demonstrates the potential for cost-effective energy solutions that benefit both the environment and the bottom line.
This landmark project serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of collaborative efforts in driving sustainable development. Signet Terrace Shopping Centre is proud to be at the forefront of the renewable energy movement, leading the way for other businesses to follow suit and embrace clean, green energy solutions.
As part of the focus on green energy, the solar installation also includes a 22kW Enelion Vertica EV Charger that powers two EV charging bays.
About Solarise Africa
Solarise Africa is a pan-African Energy-as-a-Service company. They provide reliable and affordable decentralised energy solutions energy for businesses in Africa. Their smart financing solutions unlock possibilities and empower their partners to thrive and actively drive Africa’s progress. For more information, please visit www.solariseafrica.com
About Signet Terrace Shopping Centre
Signet Terrace Shopping Centre is a premier retail destination committed to providing an exceptional shopping experience to its customers. With a focus on sustainability, community engagement, and innovative solutions, Signet Terrace Shopping Centre strives to set new standards in the retail industry.
About Nuvo Energy Africa
Nuvo Energy Africa specializes in the design, development, and construction of renewable energy solutions. With a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Nuvo Energy Africa is dedicated to delivering innovative energy solutions.
About One Stop Solar
One Stop Solar is a trusted developer and provider of solar power solutions. With a focus on sustainability and customer satisfaction, One Stop Solar delivers high-quality renewable energy solutions to commercial and industrial clients.
1. Why is this working group important?“The PV industry is growing and lacking skills”. To fill the gap and identify the skills that are needed in the PV industry, also drive the development of the training programmes and their quality assurances.)
2. Why should members join this working group? To make sure that the training guidelines we develop and the direction are and is in line with the needs of the industry.
3. What will the future of the working group look like? Develop road maps for solar PV training in different educational levels from schools, tvet colleges and universities. Also assure that the quality of the trainings which are offered and in place meet the standards and the demands of the industry.
4. What capacity (time, resources) is expected from members who want to join the working group? Make time to join and fully participate in the meetings.
1. Why is this working group important? Distributed Generation (which includes SSEG, EG, Wheeling Projects, BESS etc) in broad terms is the future solution for energy supply, not only in South Africa where load shedding exists, but also internationally. The reason is that on-site or localised generation (i.e. generation closer to load centres) from alternative and mostly RE resources are fast becoming cheaper than the traditional vertically integrated energy supply systems. Vertical systems also mostly rely on fossil-fuels which has to be transitioned away from in the interest of sustainability.
2. Why should members join this working group? Everyone has a duty to plough back into the industry within which he/she operates. This working group provides the opportunity to members from various backgrounds to become involved and contribute in fields wherein those individuals has expertise and could make a difference. It also creates the opportunity where participants in our industry get to know each other, thereby building your network to be able to share insights and gain insights. One proviso is however that this is a “working group”, not a sitting group, committee or a passenger group. If you don’t contribute and intend to just gain and not share then this group might not be for you.
3. What will the future of the working group look like? The working group would have diversified working streams whereby topical focus is obtained to a broad scope in industry interests to then provide feedback from such focused expertise to the larger working group for the benefit of the industry at large.
4. What capacity (time, resources) is expected from members who want to join the working group? A two-hour WG meeting every second month and a two-hour workstream engagement every alternate month. So two-hours per month in general unless there are occasions when members are called upon to engage externally in addition to just contributing to the current matters – such as industry forums, conferences, webinars, networking events etc.
1. Why is this working group important? To raise awareness among all stakeholders that buying locally manufactured products will ensure that the money spent by citizens stays in the country. It will also assist the country in realising its dream of growing the economy, safeguarding jobs, and creating more jobs for the unemployed.
2. Why should members join this working group? The benefit of this group work is that you can collaborate with experts who can learn from each other. Each group member will have something they can give the other team members. Local Manufacturing Members can get to understand the industry’s needs and requirements. End users will be able to understand what locally produced equipment is available in the market and share their requirements with the group.
3. What will the future of the working group look like? The expectation is that this working group will be able to engage with all industry stakeholders and offer solutions for all locally produced equipment and services at competitive rates.
4. What capacity (time, resources) is expected from members who want to join the working group? 1-2 Hours per month.
1. Why is this working group important? The Environmental Working Group is important as it keeps our members informed with current information regarding any new regulations applicable to the industry, regulatory changes or amendments, environmental best practices and compliance, trends and any other relevant topics.
2. Why should members join this working group? The working group is for participants that are passionate about making a difference and serving the sector for the best environmental results. The working group presents opportunities to learn and gain experience in areas outside of their own expertise and to share their knowledge with others. Participants and their specific expertise provide credibility to the work achieved in the working group.
3. What will the future of the working group look like? The working group will build on its knowledge base and expand into new areas that require focus for new matters at any specific time that the future will present in an ever-changing world.
4. What capacity (time, resources) is expected from members who want to join the working group? Members will need to be committed to serve at least 1.5 – 2.0 hours every quarter.
1. Why is this working group important? Grid Access is the single greatest challenge for the integration of renewable into the grid, not only in South Africa but Globally. This working group seeks to provide a platform for industry to support each other in all matters related to grid access, grid capacity, Eskom/industry discussions as well as keep up to date on the latest grid access rules be considered.
2. Why should members join this working group? Understanding the rules regarding grid access isn’t always easy, this working group is a great place to touch base with other industry colleagues to share knowledge, insight, tips and tricks as well as get access to the latest happening in the transmission grid access space. We also provide updates from the Energy Council and NECOM discussions with Eskom on the latest developing grid rules and proposals. We are also the creators and custodian of the National Annual Renewable Energy Grid Survey which is in the 3rd year of its existence. The national grid survey has become a key document to inform upcoming Eskom Transmission Planning studies such as the GCCA and TDP.
3. What will the future of the working group look like? We encourage broad participation by anyone in the industry with an interest in doing grid access applications. Future working groups will encourage grid managers from IPPs to assist with sharing knowledge from their own experience to benefit and give back in general.
4. What capacity (time, resources) is expected from members who want to join the working group? We will meet once every quarter. The working group will also call for volunteers for initiatives which may require additional donated time. The additional time will vary based on the initiative in question but is typically a few hours of service every month.
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