Shoprite Group testing new battery energy storage system for its shops

[Luis]

Checkers owner testing supermarket-scale batteries

Shoprite Group is piloting a "supermarket-scale" battery energy storage system (BESS) to further reduce its reliance on the grid and cut down on electricity costs.

The retail giant already has over 100 rooftop solar power systems at its Checkers and Shoprite stores and warehouses across South Africa and Namibia.

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

Just as a reminder, they do not own any of the systems.

 

[Sapphiron]

Just as a reminder, they do not own any of the systems.

This is the interesting part. You have power providers create a distributed power network of solar panels and storage networks, adding to the local grid very close to consumers.

This has a lot of parallels with companies like DFA collaborating with landowners to setup local Fibre NOCs and cellular tower operators doing the same.

This is how we break the Eskom monopoly and reduce reliance on fossil fuel plants. Tens of thousands of Solar+BESS deployments across commercial roofspace.

 

[RonSwanson]

This is the interesting part. You have power providers create a distributed power network of solar panels and storage networks, adding to the local grid very close to consumers.

This has a lot of parallels with companies like DFA collaborating with landowners to setup local Fibre NOCs and cellular tower operators doing the same.

This is how we break the Eskom monopoly and reduce reliance on fossil fuel plants. Tens of thousands of Solar+BESS deployments across commercial roofspace.

A Shoprite / Checkers is usually an anchor tenant in a small shopping centre. They have the muscle to negotiate more roof space, or even carport space, and to sell excess solar to other tenants. The complex becomes more self sufficient in terms of power. This will pave the way for microgrids to form in built-up areas, this is the future. No more generation hundreds of kilometres away, and hopefully wheeling may soon be possible without Eskom's involvement.

 

[Mortymoose]

Ironically I have been busy the past 10 days installing 360 Panels (2x 150Kw Inverters) on my shop roof and we should go live this time next week, will not cover my power consumption but should bring down that "numbers" train. Should break even in three and a half years, depending on what increase the local council puts on our power rates...