Africa’s largest supermarket retailer is wheeling renewable electricity at its home office in Cape Town, South Africa.
This is therefore one the first businesses to wheel renewable electricity through the city’s energy grid.
Wheeling involves the buying and selling of electricity between private parties, using an existing grid to transport power from where it is generated to an end-user.
In this case especially, it creates greater access to affordable renewable energy and contributes to relieving the country’s electricity crisis.
Facilitating the sale of renewable energy
Excess electricity generated by Checkers Hyper Brackenfell at Fairbridge Mall is purchased by Enpower Trading, a NERSA-licenced electricity trader. Enpower Trading will then facilitate the sale back to the Shoprite Group for use at the retailer’s adjacent home office campus.
“In 2023, our consumption of renewable energy nearly doubled to 103,234MWh from 54,138MWh in the previous year. With renewable electrons now flowing through Cape Town’s energy grid,” said Sanjeev Raghubir, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Shoprite Group.
Back in 2016 the retailer began wheeling electricity at Checkers Newton Park in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
In 2022, Checkers Sitari and Sitari Village Mall near Somerset West became the first premium supermarket and shopping centre in South Africa to operate entirely on renewable energy from wind and solar sources.
Wheeling in South Africa – FAQs
What is wheeling?
Wheeling allowed privately generated power to be transmitted across a grid to a customer who wants to buy it – essentially in a willing buyer/willing seller model.
How does wheeling work in South Africa?
Wheeling delivers energy from a generator in one area to an end-user located in another area through the use of an existing distribution or transmission network.
What is a wheeling fee?
Wheeling charges are levied by the electricity department for the distance the electricity is transported.
Why is wheeling beneficial for South Africa?
Wheeling allows for more renewable energy to be used through the South African grid while reducing costs and alleviating spatial constraints.
