Cornubia to house largest solar rooftop plant in Africa
Cornubia also attracts visitors because of the rich heritage around the centre.
ONE of the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop plant to be built in Africa, will be installed at one of Durban’s top retail shopping destinations, the Cornubia Mall.
This is a key step in real estate developers, Investec Property’s mission to embrace renewable low-carbon emission technology across its assets, thereby decreasing their environmental impact on society.
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The PV plant; the largest in Africa, will reduce how much electricity Cornubia Mall will have to use, easing the pressure on the national power grid.
“We are incredibly proud of our team for securing this deal and for being able to enhance the value of the exceptional shopping centre, Cornubia Mall,” Investec Property co-CEO Gavin Bernstein said.
Its solar partner, Terra Firma Solutions, will install the plant, one of the 15th biggest in the world, over the next five months.
With a DC capacity of 5 254 kWp (5.25 MWp) and an AC capacity of 4 290 kW (4.29 MW), Cornubia Mall’s solar PV plant will be the largest rooftop only solar PV plant in Africa.
The current biggest rooftop only system in Africa has a DC capacity of 4 755 kWp (4.75 MWp). When completed, the solar plant at Cornubia will be the largest on the continent, by 499 kWp, which is roughly a staggering 10.5% bigger.
“We have been at the forefront of ESG and standout among landlords who provide solar energy to their tenants. We will offer 18 MW of solar power across the group, when we have completed our project at Cornubia,” said Bernstein.
“Our landscaping and 120-year-old fig tree, a landmark dating back to the original farm on which the mall was built, draw people from across South Africa,” said Lara Gracie, general manager for Cornubia Mall.
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