Spar
Lion’s Square and Valerida
The ambition
In the competitive retail sector, uninterrupted power is essential. For two Spar stores - Lion’s Square Spar in Somerset West and Valerida Spar in Stellenbosch - the goal was not just to reduce electricity costs with solar, but to ensure long-term system reliability and performance. As shopping centres with high and continuous power demands, a stable and optimised energy supply was non-negotiable.
The solution
RenEnergy delivered high-performing solar installations at both sites and provided each with a comprehensive Asset Management contract. This service ensures that these Spars’ systems continue to generate clean electricity at optimal capacity while minimising downtime and performance losses.
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Lion’s Square Spar
• System size: 189kWp
• PV modules: 436
• Inverters: 2
• CO₂ savings: 138,980kg/year
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Valerida Spar
• System size: 99kWp
• PV modules: 180
• Inverters: 1
• CO₂ savings: 123,823kg/year
What does our Asset Management include?
RenEnergy’s Asset Management is a proactive service designed to maintain the full value of a renewable energy investment. For Spar, the contract includes:
Bi-annual health checks with a full technical service
Bi-annual performance reports with data analysis and performance recommendations
24/7 remote monitoring to detect and resolve anomalies before they escalate
Bi-annual professional PV cleaning, reducing loss from dust, bird droppings and air pollution
These services are tailored to each site’s specifications and backed by performance data and regular reporting. The approach ensures that issues are addressed quickly, often before they impact output, while helping Spar plan maintenance and improvements with confidence.
Impact
By investing in long-term asset care, both Spars are getting more than solar - they’re getting measurable value from their systems every day. Asset Management has helped ensure reliability, reduce downtime and maintain system efficiency.
As part of our ongoing system monitoring, we discovered that one inverter had completely throttled while operating on generator power. Once identified, the issue was swiftly resolved via the SolarEdge platform with support from their technical team, ensuring optimal performance was restored without disruption.
This strategic approach is particularly important as utility costs continue to rise.
Long-term value beyond installation
The value of an asset management plan lies in ensuring that your solar solution continues to perform as expected year after year. With ongoing reporting, preventative maintenance and optimisation, clients avoid performance degradation and protect their return on investment.
Importantly, RenEnergy offers Asset Management services even for systems we didn’t install - allowing owners of existing solar PV systems to benefit from our proven monitoring, servicing, and technical support.
"The solar systems have been a smart move, but having RenEnergy actively manage and maintain them gives us the assurance that we’re getting full value. It’s great peace of mind."
Marcel Fourie, Managing Director, Kwikspar Somserset West
Spar: Lion’s Square and Valerida
Smarter energy, stronger asset performance
189 & 99 kWp
Capacity
3
Total inverters installed
619
Total panels installed
“Solar isn’t just a set-and-forget solution. Performance needs to be tracked, optimised and protected - especially in high-demand environments such as retail. Through our Asset Management programme, we ensure that systems like Spar’s are generating clean energy consistently and efficiently. It’s about turning solar into a long-term operational asset, not just a one-time investment.”
Bertus Geldenhuys, Head of Asset Management, RenEnergy Africa
Spars
Lion’s Square and Valerida
Note that all estimated performance figures are calculated using industry-standard systems and norms, assume ideal operating conditions, and were estimated as at the time of the installation. EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.