Integrated energy management

This case study examines how Shoprite has improved business resilience and reduced energy costs through a nationwide investment in energy efficiency technologies, specifically focusing on rooftop solar PV, LED retrofits, and solar-powered refrigerated trailers. Using the Shoprite Constantia store in Cape Town as a primary example, the document details the technical implementation and financial benefits of these interventions in the context of chronic stresses like load-shedding and acute shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Shoprite initiated its energy resilience strategy in 2016, motivated by climate change concerns, the increasing commercial feasibility of PV technology, and Eskom tariffs that had risen by 100% since 2007.
• The Shoprite Constantia store in Cape Town implemented a three-pronged approach to energy resilience: a 440kWp grid-tied rooftop PV system purchased via a power purchase agreement (PPA) to reduce generator fuel use during load shedding; the retrofit of approximately 900 T8 LED tubes; and the use of solar-powered refrigerated trailers that allow drivers to turn off truck ignitions during deliveries, reducing diesel consumption, noise, and exhaust pollution.
• The energy interventions at Shoprite Constantia yielded specific operational benefits: the rooftop PV system provides approximately 30% of stored energy and reduces utility energy tariffs by 30-40%; LED retrofits reduced annual energy consumption by 230,000 to 250,000 kWh; and solar refrigerated trailers saved between 6,000 and 8,000 litres of diesel with a payback period of 1-2 years per trailer.
• Shoprite has scaled these technologies across its operations, developing an installed PV capacity capable of generating 12,300 MWh per year across 19 sites, retrofitting approximately 630,000 LEDs, and deploying 775 solar-fitted trailers. The company plans to expand the PV program to a total of 25 sites.

APA

Poorun, A., & Van Zyl, D. (2020). Integrated energy management. GreenCape. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SHOPRITE_CASE_STUDY_FINAL_29_6_21-3.pdf

Chicago

Poorun, Argon, and Divan Van Zyl. Integrated energy management. GreenCape, 2020. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SHOPRITE_CASE_STUDY_FINAL_29_6_21-3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Poorun |first1=Argon |last2=Van Zyl |first2=Divan |title=Integrated energy management |publisher=GreenCape |date=2020 |url=https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SHOPRITE_CASE_STUDY_FINAL_29_6_21-3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{poorun2020integrated, author = {Poorun, Argon and Van Zyl, Divan}, title = {{Integrated energy management}}, institution = {GreenCape}, year = {2020}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SHOPRITE_CASE_STUDY_FINAL_29_6_21-3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }