Dutch retailer Albert Heijn has installed over 10,000 solar panels on the roof of its distribution centre in Pijnacker, Netherlands.
The panels will generate 2,730 MWh of energy annually, which accounts for a third of the centre's total consumption. This will reduce CO2 emissions by 1,387 tonnes every year.
"The installation of the solar panels is in line with the ambition to reduce CO2 emissions in our stores and distribution centres," says Anneke de Vries, senior vice president for real estate, construction and franchise at Albert Heijn.
"I am therefore very happy that we can make such a step here with over 10,000 solar panels. And that's a big deal at a distribution centre where we are working 24/7 to supply our stores."
Continued Developments
Albert Heijn has been taking steps to reduce emission across its supply chain. Recently it installed solar panels at its distribution centre in Zaandam, and at shops in Purmerend, Venray, Enschede, Eindhoven, and Zeist. This contributed to the decrease in CO2 emissions of 41.6% compared to ten years ago.
The company also introduced electric vehicles to supply its supermarkets in Amsterdam, which are completely emission-free.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
