Powering Progress: How Coates is Driving Energy Savings and Sustainability with GEM Energy
When Coates first explored solar back in 2022, it recognised the need for the right partner to make it work at scale across its national footprint. That’s where GEM Energy stepped in. Together, they launched a measured pilot program across three branches. What began as a small test quickly proved its value and, with GEM’s leadership, has since grown into a major national rollout. Today, around 35 Coates branches are powered by solar, clear evidence that the program has moved well beyond trial and into long-term strategy.
For Robyn Simpson, Coates’ National Manager for Environment & Sustainability, who has overseen the rollout, the motivation was clear. “We had an emissions reduction target to hit, but we also needed to get smarter with our energy costs. Solar gave us the opportunity to tackle both at once,” she explains. With GEM’s project management team leading the charge, the rollout became streamlined, consistent, and scalable across the country.
And the outcomes have been striking. At one site, battery storage has boosted self-sufficiency to around 90%. At solar-equipped branches across the wider program, solar now covers on average half of Coates’ daily energy needs. That shift has reduced grid consumption by 1.1 gigawatt hours, avoided 750 tonnes of carbon emissions, and delivered around $350,000 in energy savings in the 2025 financial year.
Robyn sees this as a powerful internal example of how sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. “There’s often an assumption that sustainability costs money. What solar has shown us is the opposite. It’s a tangible investment, one that delivers cost reductions and sustainability outcomes at the same time. By having an in-house example of this scale, we can clearly demonstrate how we’re saving millions of dollars over the long term, while also achieving our environmental goals. It’s a real myth-buster.”
The impact has also been felt on the ground. At branch level, employees have welcomed the change, seeing first-hand the benefits of renewable energy. One long-serving team member, with more than 40 years’ experience at Coates, summed it up simply: “Thank you for making solar happen.” The rollout has been so well received and the energy savings validated, that many staff have even been inspired to install solar in their own homes.
The story extends beyond financial and environmental results. “It’s helped our brand reputation too,” Robyn adds. “After launching our sustainability strategy in 2022, Coates is becoming more sustainable inside and out. Customers can see that we’re genuinely walking the talk and adopting renewable technology, which matters when we’re also offering zero and low-emissions equipment hire solutions.”
From the start, GEM Energy has been central to this success. Acting as subject matter experts, GEM’s project management team didn’t just support the rollout, they led it. They simplified the process with consistent documentation, kept communication clear, coordinated subcontractors across a diverse national footprint, and carried the heavy lifting that made a complex program achievable.
What’s more, Coates found GEM’s approach unique: a small business with the agility to respond quickly, yet performing with the structure, scale, and discipline of a corporate venture. Responsiveness was critical. When challenges arose, damaged panels, incomplete subcontractor work, or the hurdles of remote sites and various network approvals, GEM stepped in quickly with solutions, ensuring the program stayed on track without costly delays or cancellations.
“What impressed us most was GEM’s adaptability,” Robyn reflects. “No project of this scale is ever without hiccups, but GEM always worked with us to find solutions. That’s the sign of a true partner.”
Looking ahead, Coates sees branch solar as a core part of its operations – a strategic commitment to long-term planning, measurable results, and building a more sustainable, cost- efficient future. With GEM Energy’s continued expertise and leadership, Coates is set to keep proving that smart energy investment pays off in every sense.