Coates’ Greener Choices cut carbon emissions for the FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2024

Find out how new low-carbon equipment improved the environmental performance of Australia’s largest pop-up sporting event

 

The project

In March 2024, Melbourne hosted the FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2024, drawing a diverse and record-breaking crowd of 452,055 fans across a packed four-day program of events.

Coates has partnered with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) to deliver 29 FORMULA 1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX events, supplying a growing range of equipment, services and solutions each year.

The challenge

Sustainability

AGPC continues to work alongside Formula 1^® to reduce its carbon footprint, making sustainability an important consideration for this year’s event.

According to Matthew Walton, Director of Infrastructure and Innovation at AGPC, sustainable power and lighting technologies remain a focus for future events. “As Coates grows its asset base, we will expand our use of the Greener Choices products that they offer,” he says. “As part of our sustainability journey we are also trialing hydrogen technologies; growing our use of biofuels; promoting public transport; reducing combustion emissions; and addressing waste reduction and resource recovery.”

Scaling up

Supporting large and diverse crowds that grow year-on-year is no small undertaking, and there are very few providers with a fleet that is diverse and sustainable enough, and that has the large-scale event experience required to meet AGPC’s needs.

“As the FORMULA 1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX has grown, there are some outcomes that we couldn’t have achieved without Coates,” says Matthew. “As well as providing a complete equipment solution, Coates has the capacity to service our requirements in emergency situations with no major downtime. Their flexibility and ability to work to the same high standard as they scale up is key to the success of this event.”

Sustainability was an important consideration for this year's event

The solution

To support the safe, efficient and sustainable delivery of the event in 2024, Coates supplied a solution encompassing more than 1,400 assets, including:

• 180 x generators – including 2 x 15kVA hybrid power systems and 2 x 45kVA Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) units

• 112 x lighting towers, with 23% of units from the Greener Choices range including 8 x battery solar lights and 13 x hybrid lights

• 99 x portable buildings for AGPC, plus an additional 67 units for other contractors

• 65 x portaloos and more than 120 x toilet, shower and urinal blocks (including 13 x accessible facilities)

• 9 x Porta Booms and 25 x water-filled barriers for AGPC’s perimeter traffic management, plus an additional 375 x water-filled barriers supplied to another contractor

• Pumps and compressors

• Heavy equipment like excavators; skid steer loaders; knuckle booms; forklifts and tippers to support other contractors during the event build

Coates is committed to growing and innovating its fleet to support this event. “We invested in new multi-cubical and accessible toilet blocks to expand our toilet facilities,” says Sam Borthwick, Coates Major Projects Manager – Events. “The use of telemetry sensors also helped AGPC to better understand and enhance the performance of some generators.”

The impact

Efficient and sustainable hire

By integrating Greener Choices hybrid power generation and lighting products, AGPC displaced 3.5-tonnes of CO_2e (carbon dioxide equivalent, which includes greenhouses gases besides CO₂) and saved 1,300 litres of diesel over four days.

In addition, all diesel equipment supplied by Coates was 5% biofuel compatible, helping to further reduce emissions. “By using a 5% biofuel, we achieved reportable stationary combustion emission reductions for equipment including generators, light towers and hybrid units, which was a great outcome,” says Matthew.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) only use the generator when required, delivering fuel and emissions savings

Keeping AGPC moving

Having an experienced team on site from start to finish allowed Coates to quickly meet additional equipment requirements and maintenance needs. “Being on site allows us to react very quickly to customer demands. We also know what needs to be done to induct and get new gear to where it needs to be,” says Sam.

Coates' proactive maintenance schedule, investment in new technologies and continual product improvement provide further efficiencies, minimising downtime for AGPC.

Communication and customer care

Communication is another success factor in delivering and scaling up the event. “You could easily be on top of one another if you’re not communicating effectively, understanding the customer’s requirements, and staying across what’s happening on site,” says Sam.

Having a strong on-site presence allows Coates to attend daily briefings, to communicate in person and to go the extra mile to ensure the event runs smoothly. “With so many years’ experience working with the AGPC, Coates has developed a deep knowledge of the site and all customer touch points, and we continue to learn and improve our process at each event,” Sam continues. “A high level of assurance and customer care is also provided to AGPC following the event, through our formal de-brief and project review process.”

A partnership approach

The strength of AGPC’s partnerships feed directly into the event’s success and allow Coates to demonstrate its customer commitment in many ways.

“Each year Coates sponsors the AGPC’s annual Rotary BBQ, an event that brings together all of our suppliers to acknowledge the good work that they do. Coates also invests back into Australian motorsport, and it really helps to work with partners that share our passion,” says Matthew. “To deliver this event we need partners like Coates that work proactively, respond quickly to changing needs and have the flexibility to scale up and down to deliver on our event fundamentals. I don't think there's another supplier in the market that has the all-encompassing capability to meet our needs in the way that Coates does.”

Contact us to find out how Coates can enhance the delivery and environmental performance of your next major event.