Client: Westpoint Apartments
Sector: Residential Property (Sectional Title)
Location: 89 Grayston Drive, Morningside, Sandton, Gauteng
System Type: Grid-tied rooftop PV with remote monitoring and genset compatibility
Installed Capacity: 287.6kWp
Westpoint Apartments, a high-end residential complex in the heart of Sandon was beginning to face rising electricity costs, relying on an increasingly unreliable grid and pressure from tenants for more sustainable infrastructure. The building needed a solution that would reduce the operational expenditure and minimise their dependency on the grid without sacrificing uptime.
The extent of the project meant that it was in ours and the client’s best interest to comply with the Johannesburg municipal electrical codes, and a challenge was for us to complete this installation without disturbing the tenants or damaging the roof.
Given the building’s height, roof type and its proximity in a dense urban location, the logistics of the installation and the safety that goes around it ensured it was a non-negotiable factor.
Key Specs
- Panels: 509 x 565W JA Solar PV modules
- Inverters: 2 x 125kW Sungrow Grid-tied inverters
- Technology: iSolarCloud remote monitoring platform
- Mounting: Galvanised steel clip lock, non-penetrating mounting system supplied by Oribi Solar
- Execution Team: Thula Moya Energy deployed a full EPC team to manage the engineering design, municipal permissions, crane logistics for rooftop lifting, panel mounting, AC and DC wiring, PVDB integration and system commissioning
- Client Support: We were granted access to the site plus basic amenities for 30 days when we were able to deliver all mechanical, electrical and compliance elements – on time, in spec and without disruption to residents.
The Results
Since installation, Westpoint Apartments has enjoyed a significant reduction in grid electricity use for shared services (lighting, elevators, HVAC) with an estimated 480 tonnes of CO2 avoided annually, based on 1.67kgCO2/kWh. The average daily production is around 1200kWh, which is tracked remotely via the iSolarCloud dashboard.
Project Timeline
We were lucky enough not to experience any major delays, and the permitting and crane operations were completed within the municipal timelines.
- Start date: 3 February 2025
- Final completion date of installation: 20 March 2025
- Total duration: 6.5 weeks
- Handover date: 7 May 2025
- Milestones:
- Week 1: Roof inspection and repairs
- Weeks 2-4: Mounting structure and craning
- Week 5: Electrical and trunking
- Week 6: Commissioning and testing
One of the big lessons we learned was that crane access on a busy Sandton road required advanced coordination with city traffic management and SAPS clearance, so we applied for permits ahead of time and conducted the lifting over a weekend to reduce the impact this would have on the traffic in the area during peak hours.
We also learned that in order to innovate towards this unique project, that non-penetrating clip lock brackets help to preserver the integrity of the roof and avoid future leaks.
There was a safety note to heed following the initial roof inspection phase, where a radioactive cable was detected near the service area. Thankfully this was already clearly marked, and we managed to avoid this during the installation phase.
Get in touch with a free site inspection
Do you want to benefit from rooftop solar like Westpoint Apartments has? We can help you build long-term energy independence with a custom-built a solar system designed for performance and longevity.
Email us at info@thulamoya.com or cindy@thulamoya.com
📞 +27 64 627 9610 | +27 31 100 2207
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