Published: 13 Nov 2020, 10:54
Image: Tesco.
Tesco has a new partnership with renewable energy investor Low Carbon to create three new solar farms as it looks to ‘play its part’ in decarbonisation.
The major sustainable energy project will help generate 130GWh of energy per year from the sites in Essex, Anglesey and Oxfordshire.
This Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) forms part of the retailer’s plan to use 100% renewable electricity across the Tesco Group by 2030.
Jason Tarry, Tesco UK and ROI CEO, said that with the UK set to host the critical climate change summit COP26 in just a year, the company wants to “play our part”.
“That’s why we’ve brought forward our ambition to reach net zero in our UK operations by 15 years and made a series of new commitments to help us achieve that target, including reaching a new milestone today in our journey to using 100% renewable energy by 2030.”
Already Tesco has committed to a major rollout of rooftop solar, with 60 stores already fitted with solar panels. In a pledge announced in October 2019, the company has also began sourcing renewable energy from five onshore windfarms and is targeting increasing rooftop solar installations to 187.
Low Carbon has a renewable energy pipeline of more than 4GW, and recently became a member of the Prince of Wales’ Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, which brings together business leaders to tackle climate change.
Roy Bedlow, chief executive and founder of Low Carbon, said the company was delighted to support Tesco in sourcing renewable power.
“Renewable energy generation at scale is central to Low Carbon’s business model and is a critical element in the fight against climate change. Partnering with forward thinking companies like Tesco will help speed the adoption of renewable energy at scale on the path to achieving a truly low-carbon economy.”