Project Overview
The Woolworths Warner Solar Car Park project transformed a busy supermarket car park into a high-performing renewable energy asset while maintaining uninterrupted retail operations.
Delivered for Woolworths at Warner Marketplace in Brisbane, the project demonstrates how modular solar canopies can be successfully deployed in high-traffic retail environments where time, access, and customer experience are critical considerations.
Originally scoped as a conventional shade structure, the project evolved into a solar canopy installation once the opportunity to integrate renewable energy generation was identified. By selecting a modular solar solution, the project delivered not only weather protection and improved customer comfort, but also meaningful onsite solar generation aligned with Woolworths’ broader sustainability objectives.
Project Background
Supermarkets operate during peak daylight hours and are among the most energy-intensive retail assets in Australia.
While many Woolworths stores already utilise rooftop solar, rooftop capacity is often constrained by available space, plant equipment, and roof loading limits.
At the Warner Marketplace site, rooftop solar capacity had already been largely maximised. The adjacent car park, however, presented a significant untapped opportunity. Large, unshaded parking areas are ideally suited to solar canopies, offering excellent solar exposure while aligning energy generation with daytime store consumption.
Rather than installing a shade-only structure that would provide no energy benefit, Woolworths elected to proceed with a renewable energy asset that could deliver shade, weather protection, and green electricity from the same footprint.
Project Scope
The Woolworths Warner Solar Car Park project included the full design, manufacture, and installation of a prefabricated modular solar canopy system.
The scope of works included:
- Engineering and design of the solar canopy structure
- Offsite prefabrication of modular canopy pods
- Civil works and footing installation
- Night-time crane installation of prefabricated pods
- Integration of solar photovoltaic modules
- Electrical reticulation, commissioning, and testing
The completed system provides solar shade coverage for 78 car parking spaces and incorporates approximately 250 kilowatts of installed solar capacity.
Project Scope
MODULAR DESIGN AND PREFABRICATION
A defining feature of the Woolworths Warner project was the use of Canyon Solar’s modular, factory-first construction methodology. Rather than assembling the structure onsite, the majority of the works were completed in a controlled factory environment.
Each solar canopy pod was prefabricated to include:
- Structural steel framework
- Solar module mounting systems
- Integrated cable management pathways
This approach allowed for higher quality control, reduced construction risk, and faster onsite installation. Prefabrication also significantly reduced the amount of work required at height and the number of personnel needed onsite during the build phase.
The modular pods used on this project included spans of up to approximately 14.7 metres, allowing large areas of the car park to be covered with fewer columns. This improved vehicle circulation, visibility, and overall car park functionality.
INSTALLATION AND DELIVERY STRATEGY
One of the most critical challenges at Warner Marketplace was delivering the project without disrupting customer access or supermarket trading. The car park operates at high utilisation levels during the day, making prolonged closures impractical.
To address this, the project team adopted a tightly coordinated overnight installation strategy. All prefabricated pods were delivered and installed during night works using mobile cranes, allowing the majority of structural installation to be completed while the centre was closed.
This approach provided several key benefits:
- Minimal disruption to customers and tenants
- Reduced safety risk in an active retail environment
- Faster overall project delivery
- No extended loss of parking spaces during trading hours
By the following morning, the primary canopy structure was already in place, with subsequent works focused on electrical connections and commissioning.
Sustainability Outcomes and User Experience
The solar canopy system at Woolworths Warner now functions as an active renewable energy asset, generating electricity during daylight hours to offset a portion of the store’s energy demand.
Key sustainability outcomes include:
- Reduced reliance on grid electricity
- Lower operational energy costs over time
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- Productive use of existing car park infrastructure
By locating solar generation directly above the car park, the project maximises land efficiency and avoids the need for additional land or roof modifications.
Beyond energy performance, the Woolworths Warner Solar Car Park delivers immediate, tangible benefits for customers and site operations.
Customer benefits include:
- Shaded parking that reduces heat build-up in vehicles
- Protection from rain and harsh weather
- Improved overall comfort when arriving at or leaving the store
From an operational perspective, the waterproof canopy structure provides long-term durability and integrates with lighting and electrical infrastructure to improve visibility and safety within the car park.
Importantly, the modular installation approach ensured that parking access was largely maintained throughout the construction process, preserving the customer experience and minimising operational impact.
Project Significance
The Woolworths Warner Solar Car Park highlights the value of modular solar canopies in retail environments where space, access, and time are constrained. Rather than delivering a shade-only outcome, the project demonstrates how car parks can be transformed into productive energy assets that support sustainability goals without compromising functionality.
The success of the project reinforces the suitability of modular solar car parks for supermarkets, shopping centres, and other high-use retail precincts where renewable energy generation can be closely aligned with operational demand.
As retailers continue to pursue energy efficiency and emissions reduction targets, solar car parks are expected to play an increasingly important role. The Woolworths Warner project provides a clear example of how modular, prefabricated solar canopies can be delivered quickly, safely, and with minimal disruption in complex retail environments.
By turning underutilised car park space into renewable energy infrastructure, projects like this support long-term operational resilience while improving customer experience — setting a strong precedent for future retail solar canopy developments across Australia.
Is your facility ready for infrastructure that works around you?
Contact the Canyon Solar team today to discuss a feasibility assessment for your site.
