other sectors , will have to start looking at alternative energy again to ensure uninterrupted business ,” Kyle Durham , head of alternative energy solutions at FNB Business , told ITWeb . “ COVID-19 has just highlighted the importance of having energy certainty and reducing costs wherever possible .”
That is why immunising your business against loadshedding is a non-negotiable .
Making renewable energy work for your business
While it may involve a substantial initial outlay , renewable energy not only shrinks your carbon footprint , it ultimately increases your profit . Businesses cannot afford to rely on Eskom ’ s coal-fired power stations alone . Aside from frequent loadshedding , individual and commercial consumers also face significant electricity price hikes from the beleaguered electricity parastatal . When you do the maths , it is clear that switching to renewable energy sources leads to longterm savings .
According to Durham , the most effective solar solution for businesses would be a grid-tied solution consisting of solar panels and a dedicated grid-tied inverter . This inverter would take the electricity generated by the solar panels directly into a distribution board offsetting the electricity gleaned from Eskom or the municipality . “ This way , you can save 30 % to 50 % on your electricity bill .”
Aside from the long-term savings , renewable energy is also vital in mitigating the energy crisis . We cannot continue using finite fossil fuels indefinitely , Wido Schnabel , chairperson of the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association , told ITWeb . Renewable energy is not only an environmentally friendly and effective alternative to coal-fired power stations , it also has the potential to create multiple jobs .
Rollout in action
Renewable energy sources are already being used in major shopping centres in South Africa . In 2018 , Mall of Africa made history by installing the world ’ s 10th largest solar roof system , reported Business Insider . It is also the world ’ s largest mixed-use integrated solar power-diesel hybrid solution . This system significantly lessens
the pressure on the national grid , saving 8 034 tons of carbon dioxide annually , more than a hundred times the amount of
CO 2 produced by an average household each year .
In June 2020 , real estate investment fund , Hyprop Investments , said it had invested in a green energy project with local solar system supplier Solareff . This is to build solar power plants on the rooftops of its malls in South Africa , including Clearwater Mall ( where a plant has already been installed ), Rosebank Mall , Atterbury Value Mart and Hyde Park Corner . The project will cost around R68.77 million . Hyprop estimates it will save R15.9 million a year on the electricity bills of all its malls . It is that number businesses need to focus on as they embark on their immunisation efforts .
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