Cape Town - Emira Property Fund has installed a R16m solar farm on the roof of its Randridge Mall in Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg.
This project continues Emira’s drive to add more renewable energy solutions to its portfolio of properties across South Africa as part of its sustainability strategy.
The photovoltaic (PV) solar farm, comprising 10 900 panels, produces approximately 1.2MWh of electricity. This is Emira’s second solar installation. It follows its successful solar power pilot project launched in 2015 at its Epson Downs Shopping Centre in Bryanston, which produces around 271kWp and saves over 515 000kWh each year.
The new solar installation at the Randridge Mall is set to save 2GWh of electricity every year. It is estimated that over 15 years, the use of this solar power will save Emira over R40m on its electricity costs at the mall.
Emira once again partnered with Bright Black Solar to supply and install the solar power system at Randridge Mall.
As a carbon disclosure company, Emira measures and monitors its carbon footprint. It recently achieved a 73% saving in its municipal water use at its One Highveld warehouse property in Centurion with its pilot rainwater harvesting project.
Justin Bowen, development manager at Emira, believes there is potential to use more renewable solar energy at other properties in the portfolio.
“We are assessing further opportunities for using on-site renewable energy generation and reducing electricity consumption at other properties, in the near future," he said.
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