Supermarket giant Coles Group has taken a significant step toward its goal of 100% renewable electricity by installing a 3.5-megawatt rooftop solar system at a Sydney facility.
Coles Groupโs $1 Billion Efficiency Investment
As part of its goal to use 100% renewable electricity by 2025, Coles Group has unveiled a 3.5 MW rooftop solar system at its Kemps Creek automated distribution center (ADC) in Western Sydney. This installation is part of a $1 billion (USD 66 million) investment aimed at boosting the companyโs operational efficiency.
Coles Groupโs 3.5 MW rooftop solar system at Kemps Creek ADC, advancing toward its goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
Located 40 kilometers from Sydney, the 3.5 MW rooftop solar system powers a 66,000-square-meter facility that uses automated technology to process four million cartons per week for 229 stores across New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This solar array is among the largest in the Coles network, matching a 3.5 MW system installed at the Goodman Redbank Motorway Estate in Queensland in 2023.
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Coles Group CEO Leah Weckert noted that the launch of a second solar-powered ADC marks a significant milestone in the companyโs plan to enhance its supply chain and boost operational efficiency.
Coles Partners with Origin Energy for Solar and Battery Investments
Coles has partnered with Australian energy retailer Origin Energy on a three-year plan to co-invest in solar energy, battery storage, and flexible load controls for its stores across the country. Through this partnership, 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 already had solar panels installed, producing 12,720 MWh of renewable energy. A separate 3.5 MW system with 7,000 solar panels was also installed at the Oakdale dry goods distribution center in NSWโ90 kilometers southwest of Sydneyโsupplying 32% of that facilityโs electricity.
Coles Group also holds 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 source energy from solar and wind farms across NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland.
Origin Energyโs Commitment to Sustainability
Origin Energy is a leading Australian provider of electricity, LPG, solar, and internet services for homes and businesses. As a major player in the energy sector, the company acts as an integrated generator and retailer of electricity and natural gas. It also operates the Eraring Power Station in New South Wales, Australiaโs largest coal-fired power plant, which is slated for closure in 2025.
Originโs diverse generation assets include a growing portfolio of renewable energy and storage projects. The company recently acquired the Yarrabee Solar Farm development project in southwest NSW and the Carisbrook Solar Farm in central Victoria, a move signaling its commitment to growing the share of renewable energy within its portfolio.
