Tesco announces major plans to source power directly from wind and solar farms in the UK

Supermarket giant Tesco has unveiled its plans of a major green electricity project, which will harness power from wind & solar farms, as well as solar panels on its own store roofs.

The retailer’s new green plans are part of Tesco’s commitment to use 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030, saving 90,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The project will see the creation of 5 onshore windfarms and 1 solar farm across the UK. Tesco will also be fitting 187 solar panels to its stores. Combined, this new green source of electricity could power the equivalent of 140,000 homes.

“Our supply chain and long-term business sustainability depend on the health of the natural environment. This project represents a major milestone in our journey to using 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030” Jason Tarry, Tesco UK and ROI CEO.

Tesco will be partnering with EDF, BayWa r.e. & Scottish Power at the following confirmed wind & solar sites: Onshore wind: Burnfoot East, Scotland – EDF; Onshore wind: Inverclyde, Scotland – BayWa r.e.; Onshore wind: Halsary, Scotland – ScottishPower. Two further wind farms and a solar farm will also be developed.

CEO of EDF Renewables UK, Matthieu Hue commented on their partnership with Tesco “These projects show the ability of EDF to provide diverse solutions for customers in terms of low cost renewable electricity.”

The project is set to be the biggest of its type ever completed by a retailer in the UK and is predicted to create more than 400 new jobs in the UK renewables industry.

“We are delighted to be working with Tesco at Halsary windfarm which will support sustainable jobs in the Highlands where one job has the economic impact of 36 jobs in London on the local economy.” Lindsay McQuade, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables.

Tesco’s ambition is to generate 10 per cent of the electricity it uses on-site by 2030 through solar panel’s installed to its UK stores. This target will be echoed globally with solar panel installation across their estate in Thailand, Malaysia, Hungry and Ireland. By 2030, Tesco Group intends to source the remaining 90% of electricity from Grid PPAs and certificates, allowing the estate to be powered by 100% renewable energy.

Gordon MacDougall, Managing Director, BayWa r.e. UK Limited, commented: “BayWa r.e. is proud to be partnering with Tesco and providing the retailer with renewable energy as a result of securing a Power Purchase Agreement for the Inverclyde Windfarm. With construction underway, we are delighted the windfarm will help Tesco move a step closer to achieving its renewable energy goals.”

More information on Tesco’s ambition to use 100% renewable electricity by 2030 can be found here.

Photograph: Tesco PLC