Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and AGL team up to install rooftop solar
How we installed solar to help meet Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) renewable energy goals.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia, the bottler and distributor of The Coca-Cola Company products in Australia, partnered with AGL to install rooftop solar to help power its Northmead site with renewable energy.
“We make about 40% of the whole country’s cans here. It’s also our biggest site, with a footprint of about 135,000 m²,” said CCEP’s Managing Director, Orlando Rodriquez.
CCEP was looking to make the most of its rooftop real estate and offset a significant percentage of its energy with solar. As a result, AGL designed a bespoke 4.2 MW rooftop solar system consisting of just over 9,000 solar panels installed across 13 rooftops.
With the project delivered on-time and within budget, here are four facts about the project and our partnership with CCEP.
1. Meeting CCEP’s sustainability objectives
CCEP is committed to its environmental sustainability goals, which includes powering its local operations with 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2025. They’ve also set targets to reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
CCEP found a partner in AGL to create a sustainable energy solution tailored to its business needs. Our solar systems will generate approximately 5.5 GW hours of renewable energy annually. The equivalent to powering 1,000 average Australian homes each year.¹
2. Flying in the cavalry
A key challenge of the solar installation was accessing the building’s rooftops. We employed a special construction helicopter to airlift and drop heavy materials and panels to the top of a 28m high-bay warehouse. The helicopter placed loads accurately, helping to mitigate the risk of harm to the installation crew.
3. Minimising operational impact
Constructing the solar system on-site without disruption was a key focus. The team deployed specialised crane trucks to lift the remainder of the materials to safe drop zones. This task required the timely delivery of goods and materials within a 60-minute interval on a weekly basis. We coordinated with other trades on-site to meet construction timelines and ensure CCEP’s operations continued without interruption.
4. Prioritising health and safety
Our project team undertook a comprehensive risk analysis in consultation with CCEP as part of the Health and Safety Environment Management Plan and Construction Management Plan. The risk analysis, along with internal and external audits, helped to implement on-site safety measures such as:
- daily pre-start hazard assessments and regular toolbox meetings
- installation of hoarding during the completion of overhead works
- isolating areas affected by crane lifting and helicopter drops, and
- coordinating procedures for on-site power shutdowns.
The project teams were committed to health and safety achieved, in partnership with CCEP and contractors.
We know many of our customers feel the same way about responsibly managing their energy needs. Now’s a great time to look for innovative solutions to decarbonise your business operations and work towards meeting your sustainability objectives.
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¹Based on AEC residential electricity use and customer numbers per state for FY2022 (Electricity Gas Australia 2023)