Equites Property Fund says it has officially started wheeling renewable energy, generated by solar PV, onto Cape Town’s grid from its newly established 17 653m² A-grade distribution centre, located in Parow.
This initiative falls under the City’s wheeling pilot project. The JSE-listed, Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is among the first to begin wheeling energy onto the municipal grid, with its current offtaker being a commercial office block on the Foreshore, where Equites is headquartered.
The Equites head office will now be receiving almost 100% of its daytime energy requirements from a renewable source. It will also be able to facilitate the supply of green energy to other tenants.
This project has allowed Equites to take a further leap into the renewable energy space with significant opportunities for growth.
“The first flow of energy from the Equites property to the city centre building under this wheeling project marks the culmination of almost two years of ongoing engagements, significant learnings and incredible support from our executives and the entire Equites team. This is, however, only the start, as we have significant potential to increase our generation capacity and provide green energy to other businesses.” - Irshaad Wadvalla, ESG Officer at Equites
Equites now equips other businesses to use renewable energy.
As a feature of its wheeling capabilities, Equites is able to supply renewable energy to companies that do not occupy energy efficient buildings or have the necessary infrastructure installed.
“In practice, this involves Equites feeding energy into the grid which is allocated to the offtaker under a wheeling arrangement, and the energy is paid for at a reduced tariff through a Power Purchase Agreement. Our goal is to use existing infrastructure and our expertise to supply other businesses across South Africa with renewable energy without them requiring capital expenditure and, with that, to alleviate demand on the grid and to reduce carbon emissions," said Wadvalla.
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