Powering Hospitality with the Wind and Sun: Discovery Green’s Renewable Energy Pact with Southern Sun

By Dowell Sichitalwe

In a groundbreaking move to decarbonise South Africa’s hospitality sector, electricity trader Discovery Green has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement with Southern Sun, a leading hotel group, to supply renewable energy to seven of its flagship hotels via the national grid. The long-term agreement signals a growing appetite for clean energy adoption in commercial sectors typically reliant on high-consumption fossil power.

Under the deal, more than 90% of electricity consumed by facilities such as the Arabella Hotel, Golf and Spa; Drakensburg Sun; and Southern Sun Sandton will be sourced from Discovery Green’s wind and solar portfolio. This includes the highly anticipated Phase 2 of the Overberg Wind Farm, currently under construction in partnership with independent power producer Red Rocket Energy.

Andre Nepgen, Head of Discovery Green, said the partnership reflected a broader ambition to democratise access to renewable energy across South Africa’s diverse business landscape. “Our goal is to unlock clean energy for NGOs, SMMEs, and large enterprises alike — helping them grow sustainably while driving national economic progress,” Nepgen stated.

This transition is particularly crucial for sectors like hospitality, where consistent power supply and sustainability credentials are becoming key differentiators in attracting both local and international guests. By securing renewable energy through the grid, Southern Sun not only enhances its environmental footprint but also signals to investors and consumers a commitment to resilience and energy independence.

Beyond the immediate benefits to the hotel group, the move represents a blueprint for scalable green energy procurement across commercial sectors. As regulatory frameworks evolve and more independent power producers come online, such agreements could catalyse wider regional integration of renewables — providing a pathway to reliability,competitiveness, and climate-smart growth.

The clean energy tide is turning, and Southern Sun is charting its course with the wind at its back.