Australia Post has reported a substantial increase in its renewable electricity production for the 2023 financial year, with a 27 per cent rise attributed to new solar panel installations across its facilities.
According to the company, this ongoing investment is projected to save the company an estimated $1 million annually in operational costs.
The national postal service continues to lead in sustainable transportation, operating the country’s largest fleet of electric delivery vehicles.
These eco-friendly vehicles now comprise 37 per cent of Australia Post’s total fleet and serve nearly half of all delivery routes.
A standout example of the company’s commitment to renewable energy is the solar array system at the Kemps Creek Parcel Facility.
In its first year of operation, this 1500-kilowatt system has generated enough electricity to power 292 four-person homes, covering 30 per cent of the facility’s total electricity consumption.
Rod Barnes, Australia Post Executive General Manager Network Operations said the facility’s cutting-edge technology was benefitting not only the environment but customers in one of Sydney’s major growth corridors.
“Western Sydney with its booming population was a very strategic point for us to increase our presence and this is paying off in efficiency gains and less on-road time by positioning parcel delivery drivers closer to the homes and businesses they deliver to each day.
“More broadly, over the past three years in New South Wales the number of parcels we process each day has risen by 305,000 – the result of new facility builds or upgrades at 17 sites. One year on from launch our team is taking pride in seeing such a significant proportion of electricity usage covered by solar,” Barnes said.
The Kemps Creek facility, spanning 33,680m² – equivalent to four and a hald soccer fields – can process up to 200,000 parcels daily. It serves an area covering 46 Western Sydney postcodes, where online purchases have grown by 81 percent from 2019 to 2023.
The facility’s solar array is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 1680 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually. Additionally, the site features EV charging provisions for 5 per cent of its car spaces and energy-efficient motion-sensor LED lighting.
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