How a flagship 1.2MW rooftop solar installation turned one of Durban's busiest retail destinations into a beacon of sustainable commercial energy.
Umhlanga Shopping Centre, one of KwaZulu-Natal's premier retail destinations with over 120 tenants, was facing a dual crisis: rapidly escalating electricity tariffs from Eskom were eating into profitability, while frequent load shedding events were disrupting tenant operations, driving away customers, and putting perishable stock at risk.
After a comprehensive site assessment and energy audit, Suis designed a three-pronged solution that maximised the centre's extensive rooftop area while integrating seamlessly with the existing electrical infrastructure.
3,200 high-efficiency monocrystalline panels across 6,400m2 of roof space, oriented for maximum year-round yield. The 1.2MW system was designed with future expansion capacity to 1.8MW.
A 500kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery bank provides 2-3 hours of backup for critical loads during load shedding, covering POS systems, security, emergency lighting, and refrigeration.
An AI-driven energy management system (EMS) dynamically balances solar production, battery storage, and grid consumption, prioritising loads and optimising time-of-use tariff arbitrage.
Real-time monitoring dashboard accessible to centre management and all tenants, showing live production, consumption, savings, and environmental impact metrics.
The system was commissioned in March 2025 and delivered immediate, measurable results that exceeded projections across every key metric.
Comprehensive structural assessment of 6,400m2 rooftop area, electrical infrastructure review, and detailed energy consumption profiling across all tenants.
Detailed PV layout optimisation, battery sizing calculations, EMS architecture design, and integration planning with existing switchgear and transformers.
Equipment sourcing from Tier 1 suppliers, municipal approval for grid-tied system, building plan approvals, and contractor mobilisation.
Phased rooftop panel installation with zero disruption to trading hours, battery room construction, inverter commissioning, and EMS deployment.
Full system performance testing, grid synchronisation verification, load shedding failover drills, monitoring dashboard go-live, and staff training.
Suis transformed our approach to energy completely. Our tenants are thrilled -- no more load shedding disruptions, our operating costs have dropped dramatically, and we are genuinely proud to showcase our sustainability commitment. The ROI has exceeded every projection, and the real-time dashboard has become a talking point for visitors. This was the best investment decision we have made in a decade.
Let our team assess your property and show you exactly how much you could save with a tailored sustainable energy solution.