South Africa Resort Generates 5.8 Million kWh From Solar, Saving Over R8 Million And Cutting CO₂ Emissions

South Africa’s Sun City resort in the North West Province has achieved significant electricity savings through its solar power initiatives. Since completing its latest solar panel installations in August 2024, the resort has generated more than 5.8 million kWh of solar energy. This production has translated into over R8 million in electricity savings, while also helping to ease pressure on the national grid. The solar project is part of a broader R17-million investment aimed at reducing reliance on grid electricity.

The latest phase of the project, referred to as phase three, saw solar panels installed on the roofs of The Palace and the Sun City Hotel. Earlier phases had already covered Sun Central. With this phase, the resort’s total solar installations now include 3,984 panels, producing 2.24 MW of electricity. The breakdown of installations includes 2,793 panels at Sun Central generating 1.56 MW, 585 panels at The Palace, and 606 panels at the Sun City Hotel.

Brett Hoppé, General Manager of Sun City, highlighted the resort’s commitment to sustainability, saying that their approach prioritizes people, planet, and profits, in that order. He noted that solar power benefits the broader community by reducing demand on the grid, benefits guests who wish to minimize their environmental footprint, and improves the resort’s financial performance.

The resort is ISO14001:2015 certified, ensuring alignment with global environmental standards. This certification helps Sun City improve management of energy, waste, and pollution, while integrating sustainability into areas such as waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation, and biodiversity protection.

In addition to financial savings, the solar project has made a considerable environmental impact. It has helped reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 5,286 tonnes and decreased the resort’s electricity demand from Eskom by approximately five percent each year. The total investment in solar installations and maintenance exceeds R17 million, with the current savings amounting to over R8.3 million. Sun City’s initiative demonstrates how large-scale resorts can effectively combine sustainability with operational efficiency, generating both environmental and economic benefits while supporting national energy conservation efforts.

The project reflects a strong commitment to renewable energy adoption and sustainable tourism practices, providing a model for other hospitality establishments in South Africa and beyond.