Fortress Real Estate Hits Major Sustainability Milestone With 100 Million kWh Renewable Energy Generated Since 2017

Fortress Real Estate Investments has reached a significant sustainability milestone, generating 100 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy since the launch of its first rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installation in 2017. This total output, equivalent to 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh), is enough to power approximately 9,000 urban homes or 28,000 rural homes for a full year. Since the programme began, the company has installed 9,310 solar panels and 401 inverters, covering an area of 205,000 square metres, which is roughly the size of 30 rugby fields and represents nearly one-third of Fortress’s total retail portfolio gross leasable area.

PC Potgieter, Head of Sustainability at Fortress, noted that the achievement reflects the company’s broader strategy. “Our approach goes beyond installing solar panels. We aim to create an environmentally sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective operational model that benefits tenants while enhancing shareholder value,” he said.

As of 30 June 2025, Fortress operates 96 solar PV systems, including sites in Poland and Romania, with a total installed capacity of 35.49 MWac. By December 2025, the company plans to add ten more solar plants, bringing the total number of installations to 106 and the total capacity to 37.71 MWac. Renewable energy currently accounts for 18 percent of Fortress’s total energy consumption, and this is expected to increase to 24 percent by June 2026.

Potgieter highlighted that solar energy remains a central element of the company’s strategy, providing both cost savings and a buffer against grid instability and rising electricity tariffs. In addition to solar, 32 retail centres are equipped with back-up generators, and installations at three more centres are planned by mid-2026.

Fortress is also enhancing its utilities management through smart metering and in-house data platforms. Smart meters have been installed at 79 percent of the retail portfolio, covering 30 centres, with three additional installations planned by June 2026. These meters provide near real-time data on energy consumption and mix, allowing for operational benchmarking and efficiency improvements. Managing the smart metering system internally gives Fortress full control of the data, enables faster decision-making, and provides tenants with accessible digital dashboards to monitor energy use.

In addition to energy initiatives, Fortress is investing in water resilience across its retail properties. Thirty centres now have backup water tanks that can provide up to three days of supply during outages, while 14 properties are supported by on-site borehole systems. The company has also piloted innovative water-saving technologies, such as Propelair toilets, to reduce consumption in malls, with plans to expand these solutions to additional sites. These measures are estimated to save around 135,000 kilolitres of water, which could sustain approximately 375 homes for a year.

Fortress is extending its renewable energy reach beyond its own rooftops. In 2024, the company signed a ten-year wheeling agreement with Discovery Green, effective from the fourth quarter of 2026. This agreement will supply clean energy to 14 Eskom-supplied Fortress properties, covering between 70 and 100 percent of the electricity not generated on-site. Potgieter emphasized that this initiative is a critical step toward Fortress’s 2030 target of reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions by 45 percent compared to the 2018 baseline.

Battery energy storage systems are also being explored to optimise energy use. Falling battery costs and increasing electricity tariffs have strengthened the business case for BESS, particularly for refining returns based on time-of-use tariffs, rather than for backup power, which continues to rely on generators. Feasibility studies are underway, and three BESS installations have already commenced.

With much of the renewable and utility infrastructure now in place, Fortress is shifting its focus from installation to optimisation. Potgieter explained, “It’s not just about how much solar we have installed. It’s about managing the systems effectively, saving costs, reducing risks, and improving our environmental footprint. These efforts benefit tenants, communities, and, ultimately, our shareholders.”