Iceland has partnered with renewable energy provider Shawton Energy to roll out rooftop solar systems across multiple sites within its retail portfolio.
The move will take the combined energy output of the multiple installations up to 10MWp, comprising enough to power 3,000 UK homes and saving 2,500 tonnes of CO2 annually.
The supermarket’s store on Penny Lane in Liverpool forms the first of its sites to install the on-site renewable energy with Shawton, which will be followed by its Queensferry Food Warehouse.
The 88kW Penny Lane and 115kW Queensferry systems combined are forecast to save the retailer more than 40,000kg of CO2 per year.
Additional stores on the supemarket’s solar rollout list include sites in Coventry, Shrewsbury, Doncaster, Leicester, Waterlooville, Ellesmere Port, and Dover.
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Iceland head of energy and mechanical services Graham Ireland said: “Sustainability is a core priority for our business, and this rooftop solar project marks another major step forward in reducing our carbon footprint across the Iceland estate.
“In 2021, we became the world’s first retailer to commit to be net zero carbon, and by generating clean, renewable energy on site, we’re taking a major step toward meeting our environmental goals.
“This partnership with Shawton Energy is an exciting step in our journey towards achieving net zero by 2040. Generating renewable energy to power our sites will continue to be a priority for us in the coming years, as we continue to identify solutions to optimise sustainability across the business.”
In June, rival supermarket Tesco began introducing solar-powered refrigeration units to its delivery fleet, as part of its efforts to cut carbon emissions across its operations.
The UK’s biggest grocer is incorporating five battery- and solar-powered endurance units from British engineering firm Sunswap to its Peterborough depot fleet.
Additionally, Greggs recently launched its first Eco Drive-Thru at Easton Lane, Winchester, testing new sustainability initiatives designed to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.
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