Sandton, Gauteng
A four-star hotel and conference centre in Sandton engaged SOCO ENERGY to reduce electricity costs and ensure uninterrupted guest experience during load-shedding — a growing reputational and commercial risk in the Gauteng hospitality market.
The hotel's premium positioning made any visible disruption to guest services — including lighting, HVAC, lifts, and AV in the conference centre — commercially unacceptable. The rooftop was a functional amenity space with a rooftop pool and entertainment area, limiting available solar panel real estate. The hotel group required a financing structure that did not appear as a capital liability on the property's balance sheet.
SOCO ENERGY designed a 150kWp solar system across the available flat roof sections adjacent to plant rooms, with an architectural finish to the panel layout that maintained the aesthetic of the rooftop amenity space. A 300kWh BESS was installed in the basement plant room, sized to carry all guest-facing services through a 4-hour outage. The RTO was structured as an operating expense, keeping the asset off-balance-sheet.
Electricity costs reduced by 35%. Guest services have experienced zero load-shedding interruptions since commissioning. The hotel has used the solar and storage installation as part of its marketing material, citing it in conference sales pitches as an ESG and reliability differentiator. The hotel group is assessing SOCO ENERGY for two further properties in Cape Town.
SOCO ENERGY has delivered projects across every major commercial and industrial sector in South Africa. Let us show you what's possible for your operation.
Start Your Energy Assessment View All Projects