Can SA hotels afford to go net zero? Hoedspruit property offers a model

South African hotels could reduce their electricity bills and carbon emissions by switching to renewable energy, but the upfront investment and challenge of maintaining a reliable power supply remain barriers to wider adoption, energy experts say.

The Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit in Limpopo was launched as Africa’s first independently verified net-zero hotel.

Speaking to TimesLIVE, sustainable energy specialist and lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand’s African Energy Leadership Centre, Silas Mulaudzi, said solar power could make financial sense for hotels because generating electricity through rooftop panels could be cheaper than buying it from Eskom or municipalities.

“It is financially viable as a hotel would be saving money because electricity generated from solar is cheaper than electricity from distributors such as Eskom and municipalities,” Mulaudzi said.

He estimated hotels could recover the cost of installing solar panels within three to six years, depending on the size of the system and the savings achieved. However, the initial investment remains a barrier for businesses considering the switch.

He said for other South African hotels, the challenge is to determine which combination of renewable energy and operational changes can deliver measurable emission reductions at a cost the business can sustain.

“There is a lack of information about renewable energy options as an obstacle to wider adoption,” he said.

“Hotels must also consider how to maintain a reliable electricity supply when solar generation is low, particularly at night when their operations still require power,” Mulaudzi said.

He said businesses could combine rooftop solar panels with battery energy storage while remaining connected to the electricity grid. “Solar panels could generate electricity during the day and charge batteries, which could then supply power after sunset and grid electricity could be used when the batteries were depleted.”

The Radisson hotel’s rooftop solar panels generate about 374,000KWh of electricity a year, meeting about 20% of the hotel’s annual electricity needs.

The property sources 100% renewable electricity through its on-site solar installation and an agreement with energy company SolarAfrica.

The hotel has also introduced lower-carbon menus and recycling and waste diversion initiatives. Emissions that remain after reduction measures are addressed through carbon removals linked to a South African grassland restoration project.

The University of Johannesburg’s senior lecturer in energy studies, Prof Kristy Langerman, said running a hotel on renewable energy is a sustainable business model, though reaching net zero could be complicated.

“It certainly is sustainable, and though it can be tricky to achieve, the combination of affordable self-generation options (solar PV) and market-based mechanisms such as renewable energy certificates, wheeling and carbon offsets means it is becoming increasingly practical to approach net zero,” Langerman said.

She said solar power was among the cheapest sources of electricity per kilowatt-hour, but ensuring a continuous supply could make it more expensive.

“Having the ability to generate electricity on-site could also improve energy security during power outages,” Langerman said.

Radisson Hotel Group MD for Africa Sandra Kneubuhler said the programme was developed partly because corporate clients wanted evidence that hotels’ sustainability commitments translated into measurable emissions reductions.

“Hotels in nature-based destinations could also appeal to tourists who value efforts to reduce environmental harm,” she said.

“Many hotels have sustainability commitments, but corporate buyers often struggle to understand what those commitments mean in practice and whether they result in measurable emissions reductions.”

She said companies were under increasing pressure to report emissions linked to their operations, including business travel and accommodation. “Independently verified information could help them assess the environmental impact of their travel choices,” she said.

“Including renewable energy could also help businesses save money compared with buying electricity from the grid while contributing to efforts to limit global warming,” she said.

Her advice to other hotels considering the transition was to focus on local solutions and partnerships rather than copying approaches used in other countries.

“Our experience shows meaningful carbon reduction is possible everywhere, provided the approach is adapted to the local context.”