Radisson's Hoedspruit Net-Zero Hotel Offers a Model for South African Hospitality
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The Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit became Africa's first independently verified net-zero hotel by pairing rooftop solar with a renewable energy supply agreement, but energy experts say upfront cost and night-time reliability still hold back wider adoption across South Africa's hotel sector.
South African hotels could cut electricity bills and carbon emissions by switching to renewable energy, but the upfront investment and the difficulty of maintaining reliable supply remain barriers to wider adoption, energy experts told TimesLIVE. The Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit in Limpopo, launched as Africa's first independently verified net-zero hotel, is being held up as a working example.
The property's rooftop solar panels generate about 374,000 kWh of electricity a year, meeting roughly 20% of the hotel's annual electricity needs. The hotel sources 100% renewable electricity through its on-site solar installation and an agreement with energy company SolarAfrica, and has introduced lower-carbon menus and recycling and waste diversion measures. Residual emissions are addressed through carbon removals linked to a South African grassland restoration project.
Silas Mulaudzi, a sustainable energy specialist and lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand's African Energy Leadership Centre, said solar generation can be cheaper than buying power from Eskom or municipalities, with hotels potentially recovering installation costs within three to six years depending on system size and the savings achieved. He said the initial capital outlay is the main obstacle, alongside a lack of information about renewable energy options.
Mulaudzi said hotels must also plan for reliable supply when solar output is low, particularly at night. He suggested combining rooftop solar with battery storage while staying connected to the grid, so panels charge batteries during the day and grid electricity covers periods when storage is depleted.
Professor Kristy Langerman, a senior lecturer in energy studies at the University of Johannesburg, said the combination of affordable self-generation through solar photovoltaic panels and market mechanisms such as renewable energy certificates, wheeling and carbon offsets is making net zero increasingly practical, though achieving it can be tricky. She noted that on-site generation can also improve energy security during outages.
Radisson Hotel Group managing director for Africa Sandra Kneubuhler said the programme was developed partly because corporate clients wanted evidence that sustainability commitments translated into measurable emissions reductions, and because companies face growing pressure to report emissions from business travel and accommodation. She advised hotels to adapt approaches to local conditions rather than copying models used elsewhere.