Redefine invests R106m in Cape Town solar wheeling project

Redefine Properties has invested R106 million in a 7.014 MWp rooftop solar facility in Cape Town, using the City of Cape Town’s municipal electricity grid to supply renewable energy to three properties in its portfolio and reduce reliance on traditional power sources.

The project, based at the Massmart Distribution Centre in Brackengate, generates 9 889MWh of renewable electricity annually for Kenilworth Centre, Blue Route Mall, and the Towers office precinct. It is expected to avoid about 9 645 tonnes of carbon emissions a year and operates under a 20-year commitment.

Read:
Cape Town seals first agreements to buy power at below Eskom rates
Electricity goes to market …
Eskom awards contract to develop virtual wheeling platform

Redefine chief operating officer Leon Kok says the project allows the group to manage energy across its property portfolio more efficiently.

“By using the capacity of one asset to support others, we’re creating a more efficient and resilient portfolio,” says Kok.

The installation is the first purpose-built rooftop solar wheeling project of its kind within the city’s municipal grid and forms part of Cape Town’s wheeling pilot programme.

ADVERTISEMENT

CONTINUE READING BELOW

Wheeling allows electricity generated at one property to be fed into the grid and allocated to other properties, enabling commercial property owners to match generation with demand across different assets.

The 7.014 MWp facility comprises 11 691 solar panels installed across approximately 57 000m² of rooftop space. Connected to the municipal network at the Rubicon Substation, the project required a dedicated mini-substation building, an inverter station, and a transformer yard.

The installation also uses approximately 300km of cabling, with 2km of rooftop walkways providing access for maintenance and operations.

City mayoral committee member for energy Alderman Xanthea Limberg says the project demonstrates how municipal infrastructure and private-sector investment can support the city’s energy strategy.

ADVERTISEMENT:

CONTINUE READING BELOW

“The city’s pooled wheeling facility represents a decisive leap forward in advancing the bold vision set out in our 2050 Energy Strategy,” says Limberg.

Read:
Redefine’s office vacancies forecast to fall to single digits next year
Redefine lifts 2026 guidance after 7.4% increase in half-year distributable income

For commercial property owners, the model provides a way to distribute renewable electricity across assets without requiring generation and consumption to occur at the same location.

Redefine’s investment illustrates how property groups can use existing buildings and municipal grid infrastructure to diversify energy supply while managing operational and carbon-related costs.

Phenyo Selinda is a Moneyweb intern.*

#Redefine #invests #R106m #Cape #Town #solar #wheeling #project