The Challenge
Wits University, situated in the heart of Johannesburg, is navigating a complex landscape in its pursuit of environmental and financial sustainability. Despite adopting a bold Sustainability Strategy in August 2023 - which aims for net zero carbon emissions by 2050 - the institution faces significant hurdles. These include:
- High energy demand: Peak electricity usage can reach up to 14 megawatts per day.
- Infrastructure constraints: As a 100-year-old urban campus, Wits struggles with limited physical space and ageing infrastructure requiring costly preparation before solar installations.
- Limited regulatory flexibility: The University is currently unable to access wheeled clean energy from private suppliers due to national regulatory constraints.
- Budgetary pressures: Only a fraction of the funding needed for renewable expansion is available, making it difficult to scale installations at the pace required.
Despite the urgency posed by climate change, frequent loadshedding, and rising costs, Wits needed a way to accelerate its sustainability impact without compromising financial and operational resilience.
SunArc's Solution
In support of Wits University's long-term sustainability goals, SunArc partnered with the institution to deliver a series of high-impact solar infrastructure projects across multiple campuses. These included the deployment of 14 rooftop solar PV installations and hybrid hot water systems, totalling over 1.7 megawatts peak (kWp) in clean energy capacity.
Key elements of the solution:
Rooftop Solar PV Systems across buildings such as the Health Science Campus (138kWp), Origins Centre (131kWp), and Wellness Centre (162kWp), among others.
Hybrid Solar Hot Water Installations at student residences like Wits Junction and Barnato Hall, delivering both energy efficiency and long-term cost savings.
Integration with Wits' Sustainability Strategy, reinforcing efforts in energy, water, waste, transport, and infrastructure.
SunArc worked closely with the University's Planning and Development Unit to ensure that installations met stringent electrical compliance, waterproofing, and structural requirements - critical for a campus with aged buildings.
Outcomes
1.7 MWp Installed Capacity: 14 systems contribute over 1060 kWp in solar PV and 610 kWp in hot water systems, significantly reducing the University's carbon footprint.
R30 Million Investment: The solar initiative represents a major financial commitment to long-term sustainability.
Strategic Impact: Supports Wits' broader net zero by 2050 commitment, aligning with national and global sustainability targets.
Financial Resilience: Solar has reduced reliance on costly, diesel-powered generators and helped offset the impact of escalating municipal energy tariffs.
Research & Innovation Ecosystem: The installations serve as real-world platforms for research and development, allowing Wits to "use research for good" and train the next generation of sustainability leaders.
Increased Awareness & Institutional Momentum: The visibility of the solar systems has sparked campus-wide interest and built broader support for the sustainability strategy.
Client Feedback
"We keep abreast of what's out there and right now we are trying to build more momentum. Raising more awareness and garnering more support is how we get more funding and also how we get people to understand that 26 years is not a lot a of time. So we have to move faster and we all have a role to play if we are to achieve our climate goals by 2050," he says
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