Supermarket giant Coles Group has taken a significant step towards its 100% renewable electricity goal by installing a 3.5-megawatt rooftop solar system at a Sydney facility.
Coles Group's $1 Billion Efficiency Investment
As part of its goal to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2025, Coles Group has installed a 3.5 MW rooftop solar system at its Kemps Creek automated distribution center (ADC) in Western Sydney. This installation is included in a $1 billion (USD 66 million) investment aimed at enhancing the company's efficiencies.
Coles Group's 3.5 MW rooftop solar system at Kemps Creek ADC, advancing towards 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
The 3.5 MW rooftop solar system located 40 kilometers from Sydney powers a 66,000 square-meter facility that uses automated technology to process four million cartons per week serving 229 stores across New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The solar array is among the largest rooftop solutions in the Coles network, matching the 3.5 MW system installed at the Goodman Redbank Motorway Estate in Queensland in 2023.
Coles Group CEO Leah Weckert stated that the launch of a second solar-powered ADC is a significant milestone in the company's plan to enhance its supply chain and boost operational efficiency.
Coles Partners with Origin Energy for Solar and Battery Investments
Coles has entered into a three-year partnership with Australian retailer Origin Energy to co-invest in solar energy, battery storage and flexible load controls for its stores across the country. Three more solar systems are set to be activated in 2024 and 2025 including a 300 kW / 420 MWh system at the Chef Fresh facility in NSW and two large-scale arrays at chilled distribution centers in Western Australia and NSW.
By mid-2023, 88 Coles supermarkets had solar panels installed producing 12,720 MWh of renewable energy. Additionally, a 3.5 MW system with 7,000 solar panels was installed at the Oakdale dry goods distribution center in NSW, 90 kilometers southwest of Sydney supplying 32% of the facility's electricity.
The Coles Group has long-term agreements for large-scale generation certificates with renewable developers Neoen and Engie from France, Acciona Energia from Spain and Origin Energy. These agreements involve sourcing energy from solar and wind farms across NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.
Origin Energy's Commitment to Sustainability
Origin Energy is a leading provider of electricity, LPG, solar and internet services to homes and businesses across Australia. The company is a major player in the energy sector serving as an integrated electricity generator and retailer of electricity and natural gas. The company operates the Eraring Power Station, Australia's largest coal-fired power station located in New South Wales which is slated for closure in 2025.
Origin's diverse generation assets include a growing portfolio of renewable energy and storage development projects. Recently, the company acquired the Yarrabee Solar Farm development project in southwest NSW and the Carisbrook Solar Farm in central Victoria signalling its commitment to accelerating the growth of renewable energy within its portfolio.