Tesco is installing solar panels on over 100 of its large stores across the UK within the next three years as part of a boost to its net zero efforts.
Building on 40 of the retailer’s stores that already have solar panels fitted and generate over 10.5 GW of solar electricity, the store will help support Tesco’s target to become carbon neutral across its operations by 2035.
The project will form part of a new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with renewables investors, building on similar previous agreements by the supermarket. The onsite power generation will be used to help manage increased electricity demand and higher energy costs.
“As we all face into the effects of climate change, scaling up our use of clean renewable energy has never been more important,” said Tesco CEO Ken Murphy.
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“That’s why we are continuing our work to source green energy from our own estate, setting out ambitious plans to install solar panels on the roofs of 100s of our large stores across the UK over the next three years – moving us further towards our target to be carbon neutral in our own operations by 2035,” he continued.
Atrato Partners managing director Gurpreet Gujral added: “Tesco has made impressive progress in its ambitious journey towards net zero, and we are proud to be working together to deliver the next phase of a solar rollout across their portfolio of supermarkets.”
“As the UK’s leading food retailer Tesco’s adoption of onsite solar will have a significant impact on emissions, and we look forward to supporting the business over the coming years to bring clean, traceable energy to more sites up and down the country.”
The first store to receive the solar panels will be based in Thetford, and will see the building fitted with more than 1,000 solar panels.