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By Newz.Africa Business Desk | Johannesburg, South Africa | 26 January 2026 |Shoprite 100th solar site
Shoprite has reached a major renewable energy milestone with the completion of its 100th rooftop solar installation. The latest site went live at Shoprite Morula in Tshwane. The retailer says its solar rollout has grown steadily since the first installation in 2015.
The company now has more than 43,300 kilowatt peak of installed solar capacity across its operations. Its rooftop systems generate enough clean electricity each year to power nearly 12,300 households. This helps reduce pressure on South Africa’s strained national grid.
Shoprite is also increasing its use of electricity wheeling. This model allows private companies to trade renewable power across existing transmission lines. In 2024, Shoprite became one of the first companies to wheel renewable electricity through the City of Cape Town grid. It now wheels power to 11 sites and plans to expand the programme with new partners.
The company’s solar expansion extends beyond stores. Shoprite has fitted 1,397 refrigerated trailers with solar panels to reduce diesel use. This cuts emissions by about 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
Shoprite says it is open to partnerships with landlords and commercial property owners. Many shopping centres control rooftop access, so agreements are needed to extend the solar programme. The retailer aims to grow its renewable footprint and reduce energy costs across supermarkets, distribution centres and fleet operations.
Shoprite expands renewable strategy
Renewable energy made up 7.2 percent of Shoprite’s electricity use during the 2025 financial year. This exceeded internal targets and improved operational resilience. The company consumed 151,243 MWh of renewable energy. It avoided 137,026 tonnes of carbon emissions as a result.
The group says it wants to scale its solar installations and bring more wheeling partners on board. It views clean energy as an important part of long term cost management and business continuity.
A growing African retailer
Shoprite operates more than 3,500 stores across Africa and employs about 160,000 people. It continues to expand across the continent. The group plans to add more than 200 new stores in 2026.
ORIGINAL REPORTING
What we confirmed:
We reviewed multiple verified reports. These reports confirm Shoprite’s 100th solar installation and installed capacity. They also confirm household equivalence, wheeling initiatives, fleet upgrades, and emissions data.
SOURCES
- TheAfrica.co.za report on Shoprite’s 100th solar site.
- Green Building Africa report on solar installations and wheeling expansion.
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