Eastgate Shopping Centre in Johannesburg powers up with South Africa’s largest registered rooftop solar installation.
The mall, which is known and loved by residents of Johannesburg for over four decades, has taken this leap forward to best serve its shoppers, surrounding community and the greater environment.
The super-regional centre’s journey to becoming an environmental leader began in 2020, when the first phase of the solar system was commissioned.
Phased approach
The solar installation is a significant step in the centre’s commitment to sustainable energy integration. This first phase consisted of a 1MW (AC) or 1,219MWp solar power installation, which resulted in an energy saving of 1 910MWh in 2023.
Since then, as part of its second phase, the mall has actively expanded its renewable energy capacity, with the addition of a 5MW (AC) or 5,997MWp solar power installation.
In total, the mall now has almost 13 675 solar panels, which equates to 35,04% of the energy required to run Eastgate’s daily load, generated through solar energy.
Set to be completed in the third quarter of 2024, the installation covers most of the available mall roof space of approximately 28 100m².
Strategic decision
Investing in solar power was a strategic decision taken by Liberty Two Degrees (L2D), the property owner, as it provides a cost-effective, efficient and environmentally friendly means of generating electricity.
It has yielded various benefits to the mall and its customers, which include the reduction of Eastgate’s reliance on the grid and the creation of more shaded parking.
To ensure that no parking space was lost, new structural steel subframes were constructed on the roof, with solar panels placed on top of them, providing an ingenious solution.
Melinda Isaacs, L2D’s development executive, says: “What also makes this achievement noteworthy, is the fact that due to the reduced reliance on the grid, Eastgate will see an estimated reduction of 10,9 tons of CO₂ emissions per year, for both phase one and phase two combined.
We are very proud to have achieved this milestone towards L2D’s net-zero carbon journey.”
Communication campaign
Ensuring customers and store owners were kept abreast of development was important for Eastgate.
A communication campaign aimed to educate while maintaining convenience, so that visitors to the centre understood the construction in progress.
Eastgate is one of only a few centres in its catchment area that is currently fully functional during loadshedding. The expanded use of renewable energy will ensure that this popular centre will continue to provide a meaningful space for its visitors, whether their needs are to shop, eat, pay, bank, access services or be entertained at any of its over 200 retailers.
Sustainability efforts
Eastgate has demonstrated its commitment to minimising its environmental footprint in various ways over the past decade. It was awarded a five-star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of South Africa in 2021.
An average of over 50% of all waste collected at the popular shopping centre is recycled, with a significant portion reclaimed for compost.
Attracting over 1 million visitors per month, the centre disperses waste generated on site, and serves as a drop-off and collection point for the neighbouring community, with these statistics reflecting that combined effort.
Project details:
Name: Eastgate Shopping Centre.
Location: Johannesburg.
Area: Approximately 28 100m².
Power capacity: 6MW (AC) or 7,216MWp in solar power.
Quantity surveyor: Acost Quantity Surveyors.
Architects: Batley Partners Architects.
Full acknowledgement and thanks go to https://www.eastgateshops.com for the information in this editorial.
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