- Solar photovoltaic capacity rises 7.2% year on year to 62.23MWp.
- Retail assets dominate installations with nearly 48MWp deployed across malls and shopping centres.
- Wheeling agreements and embedded generation support multi site renewable energy expansion strategy.
South African real estate investment trust Redefine Properties has reported continued expansion of its renewable energy portfolio, with solar photovoltaic capacity reaching 62.23MWp for the six months ended 28 February 2026, representing a 7.2% increase compared with the equivalent period in 2025.
In its interim results presentation, the company said the majority of installed capacity is concentrated in its retail portfolio, where approximately 47.79MWp has been deployed across shopping centres and malls. Industrial properties account for 8.23MWp, while office assets contribute a further 6.21MWp.
Embedded solar photovoltaic plants generated about 43.6MWh of electricity during the reporting period, underscoring the growing role of onsite renewable energy in reducing grid dependence across its property portfolio. In parallel, Redefine also wheeled 18.5MWh of electricity through short term power purchase arrangements, reflecting increased use of alternative energy procurement mechanisms.
Electricity wheeling, which enables energy generated at offsite facilities to be transmitted to users through existing transmission and distribution infrastructure, forms a key pillar of the company’s distributed energy strategy. Redefine’s wheeling activity is linked to the City of Cape Town pilot project, under which the company, together with VDMV Property Holdings, has installed a 5.7MWp rooftop solar system at Massmart’s Brackengate 2 facility.
The company also has 5.6MWp of additional solar capacity under development, valued at approximately R101m, as it continues to expand embedded generation across its asset base.
Further strengthening its renewable energy pipeline, Redefine signed a wheeling agreement with NOA in June 2025 aimed at increasing renewable energy supply across 11 Eskom connected properties. The agreement is expected to deliver 37GWh per year over a 20 year period.
Overall, the company estimates that cumulative savings from its solar investments have reached R107.5m, highlighting the growing financial contribution of distributed renewable energy within its operational strategy.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
