Tamex Transport Multi-site Energy Partnership

Key Project Stats

Four battery systems

Five-site energy portfolio

Evening peak energy use

Future-ready for electrification

For businesses with multiple sites, the biggest energy opportunities often emerge when you look at the portfolio as a whole, rather than treating each site in isolation. Every location has its own infrastructure, operating hours and energy demands, while technology, incentives and electrical loads continue to evolve.

That is why the long-term partnership between Smart Commercial Energy and Tamex Transport is built around more than individual projects. It is about understanding what each site needs today, while keeping an eye on what comes next.

Since 2021, Smart Commercial Energy has helped Tamex Transport progressively strengthen the energy position of its depot network. What began with solar has grown into an ongoing relationship spanning operations and maintenance, battery storage, further solar expansion and preparation for electrification.

Tamex Transport carries medical supplies and automotive parts from metropolitan centres to regional communities across New South Wales, supported by depots in Eastern Creek, Tamworth and Moree, and a branch in Brisbane.

While long routes and limited charging infrastructure make transport difficult to decarbonise, Tamex Transport is moving forward with Smart’s help to implement practical energy solutions that deliver value now, while also supporting the transition ahead.

THE CHALLENGE

Managing energy across a geographically dispersed depot network requires more than repeating the same solution at every location.

When the Tamworth depot was rebuilt as the business expanded, its larger roof created an opportunity to incorporate more solar from the outset. However, established facilities such as Eastern Creek required a different approach, working carefully with existing infrastructure and limited space.

The Eastern Creek depot also has a distinct operating profile. Although the site opens at 6.00 am, its busiest period occurs between 5.00 pm and 9.00 pm, when freight arrives, equipment is operating and air conditioning demand is high.

For Tamex Transport, the value of battery storage is closely tied to this daily rhythm. Solar energy is generated while demand is lower, then stored for the busy evening period.

“To be able to store... sun over the day and then use it in the evening when the freight’s pumping through and all our machines are going and the air con is going, that’s really important for us,” says Andrew Rawlings. The result is a better match between the energy generated on site and the hours when the depot needs it most.

Using that energy within the business also creates more value than exporting it to the grid for a comparatively limited return. The challenge was to address this mismatch as part of a coordinated, multi-site strategy rather than as an isolated battery purchase.

“Tamex has wanted to go greener for a long time, but many of the earlier attempts were limited by the lack of available technology. The combination of price effectiveness and the environmental component has always been important for us.

It has now reached the point where the financial side is something you can’t ignore. When we engaged Smart, we took the opportunity to install four Sigenergy batteries across four depots. It’s been a fantastic investment for us.”

Andrew Rawlings

Sydney Regional Manager, Tamex Transport

THE SOLUTION

When battery incentives strengthened the financial case for storage, Smart Commercial Energy worked with Tamex to identify where batteries could create the greatest value across its existing solar portfolio.

The tailored assessment considered:

Existing solar infrastructure and energy consumption
Available space at each depot
Evening demand and future electrical loads
Opportunities to expand the systems over time

When available incentives strengthened the business case, four 48kWh Sigenergy Sigenstor battery systems were installed across four depots. The compact, modular technology was ideal for Tamex’s established facilities, allowing storage capacity to be introduced progressively and within the space available at each site.

As Jon Vlatko, Smart’s Head of Sales, explains, “Timing is everything. It made sense for a business who has always been interested in upgrading their facilities to take advantage of the rebates offered and when we proposed the Sigenergy technology at the time, it was a perfect combination.”

At Eastern Creek, daytime solar can now be stored for evening operations. Across the wider portfolio, the same strategy can be adapted to the requirements of each site.

The installations build on a longer-term strategy developed around Tamex’s operations, energy profile and future plans. Rather than approaching solar and battery storage as separate projects, Smart is helping Tamex invest progressively as its needs evolve.

THE RESULTS

The battery systems are helping Tamex use more of its own renewable energy and gain greater value from its existing solar assets.

By shifting daytime generation into the evening, Tamex can better match its energy supply with depot demand, reduce reliance on grid electricity during busy periods and limit the amount of energy exported for a comparatively low return.

The project has also created a scalable energy platform. Tamex can continue adding solar, storage and electrical loads as its facilities and fleet evolve.

For Smart, the project reflects the value of understanding a customer’s long-term plans rather than approaching each installation in isolation.

“Tamex understands their footprint of how they're using power, but also how they're using power for the future. For us, it's about not having to put a large system in place but just adapting the system to what they need. They've got plenty of roof space so they can add more solar down the track and now they have a battery that they can add more capacity for the future as well.”

Jon Vlatko

Head of Sales, Smart Commercial Energy

WHAT’S NEXT

Tamex is preparing to roll out more electric forklifts, which are an important step towards further electrification across its operations.

Although long-haul regional vehicles remain challenging to electrify, Tamex expects the technology to continue progressing. As electric vehicles become commercially viable for longer routes, the business wants to draw on renewable energy wherever possible.

The solar and battery systems installed across the depot network provide a foundation for that transition. Future forklifts, equipment and vehicles can be considered alongside real consumption data, available solar generation and storage capacity.

Tamex and Smart Commercial Energy are also planning further solar expansion to support upcoming site upgrades. The partnership continues to evolve from individual installations into a coordinated, long-term energy strategy.

Case Study

Tamex Transport

Project Size:

~200kWh Battery Storage across 4 sites