Solar power lifts a small town’s economy
Cedar Mill an example of how limited access to grid can be overcome
CEDAR Mill Mall, Clanwilliam’s first shopping centre, which opens today, is an example of how renewable energy aids development in small towns with limited access to the national grid. This is according to Dominic Wills, chief executive of SOLA Future Energy, whose company installed a solar photovoltaic (PV) system that provides additional power for the Cedar Mill Mall.
Total investment at the shopping centre, developed by the Noble Property Group, is R130 million and is expected to create 300 permanent jobs. This promises to be a boon for traders and is set to boost economic activity and job creation for the West Coast town.
The solar PV and battery system was installed at a cost of R16.4m.
Wills said that during the connection application, Eskom indicated that it was able to supply only 250 kilovolt amperes (kVa) of continuous power because of constraints on the grid.
“However, to get the project off the ground, Noble Property Group needed at least double what Eskom was able to approve:500 kVa. The solution was to utilise the substantial roof space on the mall to install 2 580 solar panels with a capacity of 851 kW. In addition to this, a 696 kWh Li-Ion battery was installed to store excess power in times of excess and discharge in times of need.”
Wills said that thanks to the solar PV and battery system, electricity can also be supplied to the mall independent of the central grid, which will make the centre resilient to power outages. “In addition to providing power to the grid and off-grid, the exciting potential of solar PV technology is that it can provide solutions that supplement the grid. This technology is deployable in rural settings, where electricity connections are often limited.”
Mario Dos Reis, director of leasing at Noble Property Group, said incorporating a microgrid into the shopping centre turned out to be a financially attractive solution, considering how much energy could be harvested and stored from solar PV. “The shopping centre will be a blessing for small business owners in the town looking for an accessible and safe location to trade.”
Noble Property Fund bought the land 10 years ago, but development began only once the mall’s power needs could be met.
Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde said: “We salute the developers of the Cedar Mill Mall for not allowing the energy supply problems they experienced to derail their project, thereby ensuring that they are able to create important new jobs and contribute to the Clanwilliam economy.”
When businesses invested in renewable energy, they decreased their long-term risk.
The solar PV system will serve the mall 1.1 million kilowatt-hours’ electricity a year, resulting in a 982-ton carbon emission saving for at least 25 years.