Energy-resilient properties receive stronger offers, sell faster and achieve measurable sale price uplifts. Ensuring existing systems continue to deliver the performance and savings expected is the new challenge for properties invested in solar.
Underperforming solar often goes unnoticed, quietly eroding savings, increasing Eskom and diesel reliance, and reducing investment returns. Berman Brothers Group, a leading South African luxury property developer, recently implemented a next-level solution through Candi Solar’s Solar Protect+ model, providing a powerful example of how this challenge can be transformed into an opportunity.
South African property giants are increasingly incorporating renewable energy into their portfolios, as buyers increasingly associate alternative energy installations with future-proofed asset design, operational reliability and higher yields.
“The strongest long-term returns don’t necessarily come from the biggest systems; they come from the best-managed systems,” says Richard Flamand, South Africa Lead at Candi Solar. “Solar isn’t a set-and-forget asset. Continuous monitoring and optimisation are what protect savings over time.”
A pertinent case in point is provided by the Berman Brothers Group’s recent solar project, in which Candi’s Solar Protect+ transformed their solar from a maintenance exercise into a managed performance asset. Within six months of Candi taking over the existing assets, generation tracking showed performance 17% above the historical baseline, alongside improved oversight, stronger compliance, greater transparency, and a clear partner accountable for performance.
The Solar Challenge: Visibility and Accountability
Like many businesses managing solar internally, Berman Brothers Group had limited visibility into whether its solar assets were performing at full potential. Maintenance was handled internally, monitoring was limited, and there was no dedicated partner responsible for continuously improving performance. Most importantly, no one was accountable for the energy that wasn’t being generated.
The Solution: A Performance-Led Approach
Berman Brothers Group chose Solar Protect+ because – unlike traditional O&M models – it starts with a detailed two-month assessment and continues indefinitely with an outperformance guarantee. The Candi team reviewed historical data, inspected sites, assessed compliance and identified opportunities. Candi then delivered a retrofit and optimisation plan covering performance improvements, compliance and monitoring enhancements, and the integration of the sites into Candi’s asset management platform.
“Trust is the most important ingredient in any partnership,” says Paul Berman, CEO, Berman Brothers Group. “It’s about consistency and fairness but, most importantly, staying true to the relationship in good times and bad.”
The Results: 17% More Generation – Without Adding a Single Panel
Through a combination of performance optimisation, improved monitoring, corrective actions, and proactive maintenance, generation increased by 17% compared to the historical baseline – without adding a single new solar panel.
Key improvements included correcting inverter string configurations, recovering underperforming strings, improving fault response, and completing preventative maintenance and cleaning.
Solar Protect+ also delivers 24/7 active monitoring with real-time data every five minutes (versus the industry standard of 15 minutes), quarterly in-person reporting, and structured site inspections twice a year. Unlike traditional O&M contracts focused on keeping systems operational, Solar Protect+ creates accountability for performance, aligning Candi’s success with improved solar performance for the client. This means enhanced performance and lower costs, reduced operational complexity, and full compliance and reporting from a single local partner.
Blazing the Trail in Property Development
“Advanced solar technology is a cornerstone of our environmental efficiency agenda,” explains Marika Abrahams, Project Director at Berman Brothers Group. “We have always taken a proactive approach to preserving our country’s natural resources. With decentralised, cutting-edge solar solutions at our properties, we enhance property value while offsetting the real estate industry’s heavy carbon footprint.”
“We are building legacies,” adds Berman. “The Berman Brothers Group has spent over three decades shaping the city’s Atlantic Seaboard skyline and playing an influential role in rejuvenating Sea Point. Transforming aged properties into developed and functional spaces, we generate value for property investors, buyers, tenants and the surrounding communities. “
A New Approach for a High-Demand Market
Many South African property developers have largely solved the challenge of installing solar. The next challenge is ensuring those systems continue delivering the performance, savings and resilience they were designed to achieve.
“Solar should not just work,” concludes Flamand. “It should continuously improve. Our highly customised, financially attractive and risk-free solar power solutions are managed end-to-end in an active and mutually beneficial partnership, so our clients can implement, monitor and optimise with confidence.”
“For us, this involves building legacies for a sustainable future in pursuit of excellence,” concludes Berman. “We strive to disrupt the status quo and set a new standard for greatness.”
For more information, visit www.bermanbros.co.za or www.candi.solar
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