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Commercial investment firm Dexus is on track to instal solar batteries in all new industrial facilities going forward.
The company believes the move to instal rooftop solar panels and commercial-grade batteries in industrial properties could pave the way for “a new industry standard”.
The first tranche of battery infrastructure will be installed in Dexus’ upcoming project Horizon 3023, a 127-hectare master-planned industrial estate in western Melbourne, where the batteries are expected to be completed by late 2024.
Chris Mackenzie, head of transactions and development for industrial property, stated: “The battery infrastructure will simultaneously reduce our customers’ carbon footprint and that of our supply chain while generating significant cost savings for our customers.”
Specifically, Dexus estimates that installing solar batteries in the base build of all industrial facilities will save tenants $4.60 per square metre each year, equivalent to $92,000 for a typical 20,000-square-metre industrial facility.
Tenants will also see a reduction of 549 tonnes of carbon emissions per year – a crucial advantage given looming mandatory climate reporting requirements.
According to Mackenzie, the first goal is to “implement this initiative across more than 1 million square metres of industrial gross lettable area”.
He believes that embedding solar battery infrastructure in the fabric of the buildings right from the get-go will give industrial tenants an advantage in the net-zero transition.
“We already work with global brands who are on their own ESG journeys, and we are excited to support them,” said Mackenzie.
“As part of our sustainability strategy, we have developed design standards to ensure the required infrastructure is in place from the beginning. We are empowering our customers to expand their behind-the-meter energy networks in line with their own energy needs.”
While rooftop solar has become increasingly popular for commercial firms in recent years, Dexus stressed that adding high-grade batteries could “double the effectiveness, supplementing power supply overnight, which is incredibly valuable for customers that run 24-hour operations”.
“This new base build specification has to potential to set a new standard for industrial property developers, highlighting the positive role they can play in providing renewable energy solutions for customers and helping them reach their emission target, one we hope the rest of the industry will follow,” said Mackenzie.
Michael Bessell, co-executive general manager of infrastructure for Dexus, added: “We are excited to leverage the real asset capability of the Dexus platform to deliver this exciting infrastructure initiative across the industrial real estate portfolio.”
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