December 2023

At this time of year, a time of giving, many companies are far down the road with a strategy – taking action into their own hands. No longer can loadshedding be a disrupter to business. After almost 17 years, while loadshedding is embedded as part of the ecosystem, most still remember a time when the lights stayed on and most are looking to secure their energy infrastructure. How to do so? Invest.

It’s not as simple as propping up solar panels in the car park. Complex engineering is needed to create infrastructure that can support local generation and distribution. That is why Spear REIT – a leading Western Cape property fund – is acquiring assets and investing in solar, through a partnership with Emergent Energy, to allow clients to benefit from energy security that is also sustainable and green. At the same time, spare capacity can be sold back to the grid thanks to the proactive work done by the City of Cape Town to open up the market. A new mixed development close to the city of George will allow Spear to take advantage of a thriving trade route between the Eastern and Western Cape, and tenants will benefit from a modern water and energy system that promotes sustainability.

In Stellenbosch, property developer Similan is working on the Newinbosch development – a fresh middle-class neighbourhood, with all the amenities required, at affordable prices, and sustainable in nature. The new development is set to achieve four separate GBCSA certifications.

Gaia Group is providing investors with the opportunity to put money into renewable energy projects that will change the course of generation in the country, and COO Denzil Kennon is excited about the early uptake of this exciting fund. Again, loadshedding is a drive that makes this a relatively easy sell.

For Herholdt’s Group, a leading electrical distributor with a focus on renewable energy, the clear and obvious focus from clients looking to mitigate against loadshedding is starting to bear fruit as the company became one of the country’s fastest growing with imports of solar panels and associated equipment soaring this year.

The only downside to this solution to a longstanding problem is that investment is required, and costs remain high. But not taking action is perhaps worse than leaving productive capacity at the whim of Eskom over the busy holiday period.

Get in touch and let us know how your business is managing loadshedding. We’re always online at LinkedIn