Tiffany’s Shopping Centre and Spar rent the sun

The installation of a rooftop solar photo-voltaic system at Tiffany’s Shopping Centre and Spar in Salt Rock on Kwa-Zulu Natal’s Dolphin Coast has been completed, enabling the retail centre tenants to harness the abundant coastal sunshine, go green and save costs.

Initially halted three-quarters of the way through installation due to the Coronavirus lockdown, the project was able to progress as the country moved into Level 4. 1134 Canadian Solar Panels will produce over 520 000 kWh of solar energy annually through the grid-tied system.

Property Owner, Domingos Dejesus says “We’re excited to have our solar solution online and functioning well. It supports our vision to reduce our impact on the environment through green initiatives and we have also been keen to benefit from the cost savings that can be achieved through harnessing solar energy. While the initial outlay for installing a system has previously been too high, the solution from SolarSaver enabled us to implement grid-tied solar, without having to pay for the hardware and installation upfront. We can immediately start seeing the difference in our electricity costs, without the stress of managing and maintaining a system ourselves.”

SolarSaver’s unique rent-to-own model is enabling businesses all over the country to reduce operational costs, with over 200 installations in Namibia and South Africa completed to date. “We design and fund the full cost of the installation, and cover all the costs associated with the ongoing maintenance of the system,” says SolarSaver’s Lance Green. “Our customers pay only for the greener power the system produces, at rates less than grid power.”

Green says the solution works well for retail centres like Tiffany’s, enabling all tenants to reduce their reliance on grid power and avoid increased electricity costs. “Besides the SuperSpar and Tops, Tiffany’s Shopping Centre retailers include three restaurants and two take-away stores. These stores operate fridges, freezers, aircons, fryers, ovens and stoves, resulting in high energy usage. With the introduction of solar power feeding these operations, the stores can rely on having stable green power throughout the day.”

Green, himself a North Coast resident says, “It’s great to see a range of business clients from retail centers, manufacturing companies, game farms, fuel stations, car dealerships to major shopping centers, taking advantage of the opportunity to switch to solar. In a time like this, we need to find all possible ways to save costs. With all our available sunshine, South African businesses can easily be on a par with the greenest, most energy efficient buildings around the world.”