Sixteen of TiAuto’s retail stores have completed their conversion to solar power, as part of Phase 1 of a project to reduce the group’s dependence on Eskom and to move to renewable energy.
The company notes that Phase 2 “is now well under way”, with the goal of having all TiAuto’s stores running on solar energy within the next three years.
TiAuto is the holding company of automotive fitment centre brands such as Tiger Wheel & Tyre, Tyres & More and Treads Unlimited.
TiAuto describes the initial results of the move to solar power as “impressive”.
The group has so far produced an annualised 498 MWh of clean energy, reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 295 t, and saved the equivalent of 42 908 litres of oil.
The group’s investment in solar energy, to date, has reached R10-million.
Phase 1 is defined as solar installations on properties and buildings owned by TiAuto Investments, which encompass 18 premises, including a large installation at the group’s head office.
Phase 2 is the balance of retail properties that are leased from third-party landlords, where TiAuto needs permission to install solar systems, making it a more complex and time-consuming process.
Should TiAuto be able to convince all the landlords to allow it to fund and install solar solutions, it would expand the group’s solar drive to an additional 73 sites, currently equating to roughly R37-million in investment.
“We will be building and opening around 15 new equity stores in the 2024 financial year (July to June), which would bring total Phase 2 capital expenditure to R45-million,” says the company.