Fortress Real Estate Investments has reached a major sustainability milestone, having generated 100 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy since the launch of its first rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installation in 2017.
This total output, equivalent to 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh), reflects Fortress’s commitment to sustainability, energy resilience, and operational efficiency. For context, this volume of clean energy could power approximately 9,000 urban homes or 28,000 rural homes for an entire year. Since the programme began, 9,310 solar panels and 401 inverters have been installed. The area covered by these panels is 205,000m² – equivalent to 30 rugby fields – represents almost one-third of Fortress’s total retail portfolio GLA.
“This is a major accomplishment for Fortress,” says PC Potgieter, Head of Sustainability. “Our strategy is about more than solar installations. It’s about building an environmentally friendly, efficient, and cost-effective operational model that supports tenants and enhances shareholder value.”
Growing Renewable Infrastructure
As at 30 June 2025, Fortress operates 96 solar PV systems, including sites in Poland and Romania, with a total installed capacity at 35.49 MWac. By December 2025, Fortress aims to add a further 10 plants, taking the total number of installations to 106 with an installed capacity at 37.71 MWac.
Renewable energy penetration is estimated to increase from 18% currently, to 24% by June 2026. “Solar remains the biggest element in our energy strategy,” adds Potgieter. “It’s not only a cost saver but also a strategic buffer against grid instability and rising electricity tariffs.”
In addition to solar, back-up generators have been installed at 32 retail centres with a further 3 centres planned for installations by June 2026.
Smart Utilities, Smarter Operations
Fortress is also transforming utilities management through smart metering and in-house data platforms. Smart meters have been installed at 79% of the retail portfolio (30 centres) and another three centres planned for installation by June 2026. These meters offer near real-time data on consumption and energy mix (grid, solar, diesel), enabling operational benchmarking and efficiency gains
Smart metering is managed entirely in-house, giving Fortress full control of data, faster decision-making, and tenant-friendly digital dashboards.
Water Resilience Measures
To complement its energy strategy, Fortress is investing heavily in water resilience:
- 30 retail centres now feature backup tanks providing up to three days of water during outages
- 14 properties are supported by on-site borehole systems
- Innovative water-saving technologies, including Propelair toilets, have been successfully piloted to reduce consumption at malls. These will now be rolled out at further selected assets.
Potgieter highlighted that, “the associated water saving which we estimate to be in the order of 135 000kl is enough to sustain 375 houses for a year.”
Offsite Renewables: 10-Year Wheeling Deal
Fortress’s renewable reach extends beyond its own rooftops. In 2024, the company signed a 10-year wheeling agreement with Discovery Green, effective from Q4 2026. This will supply clean energy to 14 Eskom-supplied Fortress properties, covering at least 70% (and up to 100%) of electricity demand not met by on-site solar systems.
“This is a critical step in reaching our 2030 decarbonisation target of reducing our Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon footprint by 45% compared to our 2018 baseline,” said Potgieter.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
“We see stronger business cases for BESS solutions following recent reduction in battery costs and tariff increases. These business cases remain sensitive to load profiles and in force tariff structures. Battery systems are preferred for refinement of returns based on time of use tariffs, rather than for back-up power, for which generators are favoured,” explained Potgieter.
A number of feasibilities are currently being conducted, and Fortress has commenced with three BESS installations.
What’s Next
With much of the infrastructure now in place, Fortress is shifting focus from installation to optimisation: “It’s not just about how much solar we’ve installed,” Potgieter concludes. “It’s about how effectively we manage the systems we’ve built. We’re saving money, reducing risk, and improving our environmental footprint. That’s good for our tenants, our communities, and ultimately, our shareholders.”