Biggest commercial hybrid power systems in SA unveiled at Gauteng malls

For businesses in South Africa, the move could not come at a more critical time. Load shedding was undermining productivity, cutting operating hours and driving revenue losses across industries, especially in retail and hospitality.

These new energy systems aim to secure power consistency for tenants and customers, while easing pressure on the national grid.

Once struggling, Fourways Mall has undergone a major revitalisation and is now investing in one of the country’s largest rooftop solar projects.

The installation, which covers a significant portion of the mall’s roof, is designed to power up to 70% of the centre at full capacity.

“Solar energy helps us reduce dependence on the national grid, manage operating costs more efficiently, and demonstrate our commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Flanagan & Gerard’s Development Director, Elsje Bodenstein.

“Investing in solar also helps future-proof the centre against ongoing load shedding and positions us as a leader in sustainable retail practices,” she added.

Rosebank Mall has also activated a landmark hybrid energy system, allowing it to shift from being a power consumer to an active energy player.

General Manager Muhammad Varachia emphasised that the project is more than just a sustainability drive.

“This isn’t a greenwashing exercise, but rather a commercial strategy that makes the grid stronger and our operations more predictable,” he said.

The hybrid system integrates solar, lithium-ion storage, and advanced inverter technology, enabling the mall to run independently of the grid during high-demand periods. At full capacity, the system can generate up to 5MW, enough to power the entire mall without Eskom supply or generators.

The project is aligned with Eskom’s Demand-Side Management (DSM) programme, which rewards large users for reducing demand during periods of strain. It also provides community benefits, such as powering pedestrian crossing lights on Bath Avenue during load shedding, improving safety for surrounding residents.

Anthony English, CEO of Freedom Won, the company behind the lithium storage solution, noted the scale and speed of the rollout:

“What we see here would have been about a week on the production line, and it took the installation team about two weeks to fit all the modules into the racks. The system is scalable and designed for safe, efficient on-site installation.”