As South Africa’s energy landscape continues to evolve under the pressure of rising electricity tariffs and ongoing grid instability, businesses are being forced to rethink how they secure and manage power.

For many, the shift is no longer just about adopting renewable energy - it’s about implementing solutions that are financially viable, operationally reliable, and built for long-term resilience.

This is also reshaping the role of those advising businesses on energy strategy - from renewable energy consultants and property advisors to commercial real estate stakeholders. Increasingly, they are expected to guide clients through decisions that span technical design, financing structures, implementation and long-term performance.

According to Bruce Lywood, Managing Director of Innova Energy Solutions, this shift is driving a more collaborative model across the industry.

“Clients are looking for complete, dependable solutions rather than fragmented components,” he explains. “That means bringing together the right expertise across engineering, financing and delivery to create something that actually works in the real world.”

Why collaboration is becoming increasingly important to deliver energy solutions

To meet this need, many renewable energy consultants are moving towards partnership-led models working with specialist providers to deliver fully integrated solutions.

Rather than managing every component internally, this approach allows advisors to focus on client relationships and project coordination, while leveraging partners for technical design, funding and implementation. For Innova Energy Solutions, this model has become central to how they operate.

“We position ourselves as the bridge,” says Lywood. “We understand the client’s operational requirements and work with the right partners to structure a solution that meets those needs - technically and commercially.”

Through partnerships with companies like Candi Solar, Innova is able to offer clients access to structured, performance-led solar solutions. With its Swiss roots and strong local presence, Candi Solar combines system design, funding and long-term performance management within a single delivery model - helping make implementation more accessible, particularly where upfront capital is constrained.

Expanding access through partnership models

For advisors and solution providers, this model not only improves client outcomes but can also broaden the scope of what they are able to offer and open up new commercial opportunities. By working with an established solar developer and financier, partners can expand their offering without taking on the full technical or financial burden of delivering projects independently.

“It allows you to unlock a new revenue stream while staying focused on your core business,” Lywood explains.

In practice, this often means introducing opportunities while experienced partners handle the technical design, financing structures and delivery - helping reduce complexity while still creating value for both clients and partners.

Mooikloof Office Park: a partnership in action

The Mooikloof Office Park project offers a clear example of how this model works in practice.

 Innova became involved through its relationship within the Univision Group network, identifying an opportunity to improve energy resilience for the office park in a load-shedding-prone environment while also supporting operational continuity and sustainability goals. Acting as project coordinator, Innova worked closely with Candi Solar and EPC partner Nuvo Energy to scope, structure and deliver the solution.

 “We evaluated the site’s energy profile and worked with our partners to design a solution that would provide both operational reliability and long-term cost stability,” says Lywood.

Why hybrid systems are gaining traction

A key decision in the Mooikloof project was to implement a hybrid solar PV and battery energy storage system (BESS).

“Solar alone doesn’t fully solve the challenge of an unreliable grid supply,” Lywood explains. “By integrating battery storage, you can ensure uninterrupted power, reduce reliance on diesel, and manage energy demand more effectively.”

For Mooikloof, this created a system that supports business continuity and enables tenants to operate with less disruption, even during grid outages.

Delivering measurable impact

Since implementation, the system has delivered strong performance outcomes. Mooikloof Office Park has generated over 372,000 kWh to date and has performed approximately 13% above predicted output.

 For businesses operating within the park, the benefits are immediate:

●        Uninterrupted Power Supply

●        Reduced diesel dependence 

●        Greater cost predictability 

●        Improved operational continuity 

“It removes a significant layer of uncertainty,” says Lywood. “Tenants don’t have to think about energy - it simply works.”

 The value of the right partners

 From Innova’s perspective, the partnership with Candi Solar was central to the success of the project. By combining Innova’s coordination and client-facing role with Candi’s engineering expertise and structured financing models, the project was able to move forward without requiring significant upfront capital.

 “Having a partner that can deliver both the technical solution and the financing structure is critical,” Lywood notes.

 The structure of the partnership also helped simplify delivery and reduce implementation friction for the client.

Rethinking how businesses approach solar

Despite growing adoption, some misconceptions still shape how businesses approach commercial solar. 

“One of the biggest is the assumption that solar requires large upfront investment,” Lywood says. “In reality, financed models can significantly reduce or remove that barrier. There’s often a belief that solar alone is enough,” he adds. “But without battery storage and proper system design, there are still gaps.”

Perceived complexity is another concern, but in practice, this can often be addressed through the right project structure and the support of experienced delivery partners. For advisors and solution providers, the opportunity lies not only in solving client challenges, but in expanding their own capabilities through the right partnerships.

A more strategic approach to energy

As South Africa’s energy challenges continue, the move towards collaborative, partnership-driven solutions is expected to accelerate.

For advisors and solution providers, this represents a shift in role from simply supplying products or services to helping clients navigate more strategic energy decisions.

“The future of energy is not about standalone solutions,” says Richard Flamand, South Africa Lead at Candi Solar. “It’s about bringing together the right expertise to deliver something that is reliable, scalable and built for the long term.

These models are making commercial solar more accessible for businesses that may previously have found implementation difficult. By combining technical expertise with more flexible financing structures, they can help reduce barriers to adoption and support more practical long-term energy planning.”