The challenge of loadshedding in South Africa has evolved from a temporary inconvenience into a defining constraint on how buildings, infrastructure and energy systems are designed. At the Solar & Storage Live Africa 2026, held at the Gallagher Convention Centre, a panel of industry experts unpacked how solar, storage and hybrid energy systems are being designed to withstand grid instability in the panel topic ‘Loadshedding proof: designing solar systems for energy security’.
The panel consisted of Nikash Rughubir of Ndalamo Resources; Sula Ntsaluba of Grenex; Matthew Whalley of Balwin Properties; and Lerato Ramushu of Ngwanalaka Group Holdings.
This is part two of a two-part series.
Matthew Whalley of Balwin Properties.
© RACA Journal
Battery storage was a major theme across the broader conference, particularly in relation to:
- Peak tariff arbitrage
- Load shifting
- Backup duration
These concepts are highly relevant to HVAC:
- Thermal storage (ice or chilled water) can complement battery storage
- HVAC loads can be shifted outside peak tariff periods
- Pre-cooling strategies can reduce demand during outages
By aligning HVAC operation with storage strategies, buildings can:
- Lower electricity costs
- Reduce reliance on diesel backup
- Improve overall energy resilience
Affordability and the case for centralised systems
A key concern raised by the panel was affordability, particularly in the South African residential context.
Proposed solutions included:
- Pay-as-you-go financing models
- Leasing structures
- Shared or centralised energy systems
From an HVAC perspective, centralisation offers additional benefits:
- District cooling or shared plant systems
- Improved load diversity
- Higher efficiency at scale
As Whalley noted, centralised systems can deliver lower per-user costs by leveraging diversity in demand – a principle long understood in HVAC system design. This opens the door to integrated energy + HVAC microgrids, where cooling, power and storage are managed holistically rather than as separate systems.
The role of energy auditing and system design
Another recurring theme was the importance of accurate energy auditing and load analysis. Poor system design – particularly incorrect battery sizing – was identified as a major cause of underperformance.
For HVAC professionals, this reinforces the importance of:
- Detailed load profiling
- Understanding usage patterns
- Designing systems based on real demand, not assumptions
This aligns closely with best practice in HVAC commissioning and retrofitting, where performance gaps often stem from inadequate initial analysis.
Tariffs, policy and the future of Building Energy Systems
The session concluded with a discussion on changing utility tariffs and the shift from prepaid to postpaid models. While this may seem administrative, it has direct implications for HVAC:
- Higher fixed charges incentivise efficiency
- Time-of-use tariffs encourage load shifting
- Grid interaction becomes more complex
As energy costs become more dynamic, HVAC systems will need to become more responsive — integrating with energy management platforms and adapting operation in real time.
A converging energy future
The panel made one point abundantly clear: energy systems are no longer siloed. Solar, storage and grid supply are converging into integrated, intelligent systems – and HVAC&R sits at the centre of this transformation.
Key takeaways for HVAC professionals include:
- Efficiency is the first and most powerful tool
- Load management is as important as generation
- Hybrid systems require tiered, risk-based design
- Storage integration opens new opportunities for optimisation
- Centralised and shared systems may define the future
Ultimately, designing for loadshedding is not just about keeping the lights on – it is about rethinking how buildings consume, manage and interact with energy.
For HVAC&R, this represents both a challenge and a significant opportunity to lead in the transition toward resilient, low-carbon built environments.
