Mercadona has announced that it plans to invest approximately €60 million in the installation of solar panels on its roofs in the coming year.
The Spanish supermarket chain claims the solar panels will significantly increase the reduction of emissions due to electricity consumption.
Mercadona says the commitment to obtain energy in a sustainable way commenced at the end of 2020 in selected stores.
New Solar Panels
In 2021, the company strengthened its commitment to photovoltaic self-consumption, and in 2022 it invested €14 million in the installation of new solar panels, which it claims avoids the emission of more than 3,000 tonnes of CO2 in a year.
The supermarket chain uses this renewable energy source in 114 stores, nine logistics blocks, three colmenas (warehouses for online sales) and in the newly opened offices that the company has located in Albalat dels Sorells (Valencia).
The company's forecast is to convert a total of approximately 350 stores by the end of 2023.
With all this installed capacity, Mercadona expects to save energy equivalent to the accumulated annual consumption of 125 stores.
Goals For 2027
The retailer, which has adopted the motto 'who has a roof, has a treasure' for its photovoltaic rollout, is aiming to have more than 850 stores self-reliant on energy by 2027, which will mean savings in electricity equivalent to the consumption of 300 stores.
Last November, Mercadona said it reduced its carbon footprint by 38% in 2021. The supermarket chain has measured its emissions on an ongoing basis from 2015, within its commitment to the Paris Agreement towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
© 2023 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Robert McHugh. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
