A Shopping Centre Cannot Close During Load Shedding
Kelvin Village Shopping Centre faces the same challenge every retail centre does: tenants cannot trade when the lights are off, and trading interruptions directly impact rental income and tenant retention. Beyond the commercial impact, a shopping centre also has safety obligations — emergency lighting, security systems, and fire systems must remain operational at all times.
Specific pain points:
- Trading interruptions during load shedding costing tenants revenue and affecting rental relationships
- Safety systems requiring continuous power regardless of grid status
- High electricity consumption from refrigeration, lighting, air conditioning, and signage
- Generator costs high when running without solar to reduce the load
117 kWp Solar + 150 kVA Generator — Cost Savings and Trading Continuity
Gentricity designed a combined solar and generator integration system:
System specifications:
- 117 kWp solar panel array on the shopping centre roof
- Integration with 150 kVA diesel generator for seamless load shedding backup
- Automatic transfer switch ensuring zero interruption to trading when Eskom fails
- Solar reduces the generator load during daylight load shedding events — cutting fuel costs
- Real-time monitoring for centre management team
How solar and generator work together:
- During normal operation: solar offsets 40–55% of daytime grid consumption
- During load shedding: generator starts automatically, solar reduces fuel burn
- During night-time load shedding: generator runs at full capacity (solar offline)
- Result: trading continues, electricity costs fall, fuel costs reduce
Results (Estimated based on system specifications and industry benchmarks)
| Metric | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Daytime electricity cost reduction | 40–55% |
| Load shedding trading interruptions | Zero |
| Generator fuel cost reduction | 50–65% (daytime load shedding events) |
| Estimated annual savings | R380,000 – R550,000 |
| Payback period | 3–5 years |
Note: Figures are estimates based on system size and SA commercial solar benchmarks. Actual results may vary.
What This Project Demonstrates
For shopping centres and retail property owners:
- A generator alone is expensive to run — solar dramatically reduces fuel costs during daytime outages
- The combination of solar + generator is often the most cost-effective load shedding solution for retail
- 117 kWp delivers meaningful savings across a shopping centre's substantial electricity consumption
- Trading continuity protects tenant relationships and rental income — the true ROI of resilience
Relevant solutions: