Case Study

AstraZeneca Australia

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Project Size:

617kW Rooftop Solar + 4x AC EV chargers

 

Key Project Stats

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911 MWh Generation Per Year

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7% reduction in overall energy use

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11 year payback period

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Completed in under 6 months

AstraZeneca have taken an ambitious step in their sustainability journey, going beyond conventional methods of purchasing green energy or offsetting emissions with carbon credits.  

As part of their global energy strategy, they’re maximising on-site clean energy production at their Sydney headquarters with a relatively new innovation in commercial renewable energy – solar car shades.  

It's a bold and impactful project which ticks a lot of boxes for the global pharmaceutical giant. Not only will the structure supply seven per cent of the facilities’ energy requirements, it also provides shelter, improved site aesthetics and more charging capacity for staff and visitor EVs. 

 

THE OBJECTIVE

With all suitable rooftop space filled with solar panels, AstraZeneca had to get creative when it came to producing more energy on site. Their multi-storey car park presented the most viable opportunity to increase generation and created an opportunity for the company to add more EV chargers to meet growing staff and visitor needs. 

“AstraZeneca already had a couple of EV chargers in the lower level of the car park, and they were at capacity most of the time. There was clearly a demand in the car park for more EV chargers.” 

Anastasi Kotoros, Smart Commercial Solar 

Finally, the top level of the car park was uncovered and underused, with drivers preferring the sheltered lower levels. Improving the experience and the aesthetics of this part of the facility was important, as was capturing the imagination of stakeholders within AstraZeneca to encourage support and enthusiasm for the project. 

 

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THE SOLUTION

AstraZeneca first reached out to Smart Commercial Solar in 2019 to discuss options for extending their on-site generation. After several years of on-and-off discussions, considerations, designs and redesigns – and pandemic-related interruptions - Smart was chosen to deliver the companies solar car shade vision thanks to alignment on safety and other values. 

Helmed by our most experienced Senior Project Manager, Frank Placko, the Smart team worked with our valued partner Solar Car Parks to design and engineer the structure, creating a modern and aesthetically pleasing solution which met all objectives. In contrast to largely unseen rooftop arrays, solar car shades are highly visible, so aesthetics matter. It's critical that the right materials, the right products – even the right cable management - are employed on site to create a pleasant user experience. 

Bifacial solar panels are an important aspect of the design - these panels don’t have a back sheet, so they allow light to pass through from above. This ensures the space would remain light-filled, while being protected from the elements. 

“The car park solution presented a good synergy between solar energy generation and user experience. The bifacial panels let light through, so while they provide shade, they still offer a bright and open feel.” 

Anastasi Kotoros, Project Lead 

Four 22kW AC EV chargers were integrated into the car shade design, with a unique elevated cabling designed to maximise access to each charger for surrounding parking spaces and ensure compliance with AstraZeneca’s high safety standards. 

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THE OUTCOME

The new solar car shade system contributes significantly to AstraZeneca’s sustainability objectives, producing 911 MWh per year. This is a key step toward their global commitment to using 100% renewable energy by 2025. The project not only increases their on-site energy generation but also supports their broader electrification strategy, which includes transitioning to electric vehicles. 

In addition to the solar car shade installation, Smart Commercial Solar also integrated the system with AstraZeneca’s existing solar assets, consolidating the monitoring into a single portal for streamlined management. This enables AstraZeneca to track their energy production across all solar systems on-site with ease, enhancing both energy efficiency and operational oversight. 

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“This project has really opened our eyes to the possibilities of solar car shades. We are excited about the potential to maximise our renewable generation even further.”

Jasmine Stewart

AstraZeneca

WHAT'S NEXT

The partnership between AstraZeneca and Smart Commercial Solar continues to grow. Following the successful installation of the solar car shade and EV chargers, the Performance team at Smart will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of all solar assets at AstraZeneca’s site.  

Plans are already underway for a second solar car shade project, again with additional EV charging infrastructure to meet the growing demand from employees. The team at Smart are proud to continue supporting AstraZeneca’s ambitious goals with our full range of services - from consulting to design, engineering, installation and performance management - and look forward to our next collaboration.