Page 6 - LandscapeSA_119

PROJECT

MaLL OF ThE SOUTh SOLaR PLaNT

Mall of the South, a shopping centre in Johannesburg managed by Redefine

Properties, embarked on a solar power plant installation this year to reduce its
carbon footprint. This forms part of the environmental, social and governance
(ESG) strategy for the Centre.

ohannesburg is one of five C40 cities,
with the others being Cape Town,
JDurban, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane,
which committed to attaining net zero
carbon footprint for new buildings by
2030 and existing buildings by 2050,
through the net zero carbon buildings
accelerator. In its simplest form, net
zero refers to reducing greenhouse
gas emissions to as close to zero as
possible, with any leftover emissions
being addressed through carbon
removal projects, for example relying on
renewable energy. The mall itself is not
a large carbon emitter but as it is reliant
on Eskom, it contributes to emissions
through its purchase of electricity.
For every kwh (unit) of electricity the
centre can source from its solar system, Project Team
it will save 1.06 kg of carbon from being Client: Redefine Properties/ Mall of the South
emitted into the atmosphere. Project Management and Principal Agent: Solink
Solar Plant Installation: Terra Firma Solutions
with the C40 Cities net zero carbon
buildings accelerator strategy in mind, a
decision was made by Mall of the South
to start executing the first part of their
ESG strategy with a solar power plant The solar plant installed at Mall of the South is reducing its carbon footprint
installation. This commenced in February
2022 and was completed at the end of anticipates a reduction of 8939.95 tCO2e any exported power to City Power’s grid is
august 2022. The solar PV facility here is per year in its carbon footprint. within grid code requirements.
one of the biggest rooftop projects in the
country, ranking in the top ten in South The solar installation is a grid-tied system, Facts about the installation:
africa. meaning that the inverters cannot operate • 10 226 solar panels were spread over
without the presence of the grid allowing 23 500 m for this installation;
2
The solar plant size installed is 5160kwp the inverters to convert DC power from • 38 solar PV string inverters were used for
(5168kwp DC power and 4180kwp aC the panels to aC power. The system does the installation;
power), producing 8433 917kwh per not yet include the use of any batteries • approximately 700m of AC wire and more
annum. This will amount to a net saving or other dispatchable power sources than 240km of DC cable were used;
of approximately R13.5M on the mall’s and consequently, the shopping centre • 30 jobs were created during the seven
annual electricity bill and produce a yield will still rely on backup generator power month construction period; and
of 31.1 % in the first year. during load shedding. • four more permanent roles will be
needed to clean and maintain the solar
The system will operate at the shopping an export control system is employed plant on a monthly basis.
centre for over 20 years, producing that can dynamically control the power
156 Gwh over its lifetime. Based on energy from the solar system (power factor, real Mall of the South is committed to ensuring
saving projections, Mall of the South power curtailment etc). This ensures that that sustainability forms an integral part

4 Landscape Sa • Issue 119 2022