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

(Climate Action, 31 Oct 2019) 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.

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Climate Action, 31 Oct 2019: Tesco announces major plans to source power directly from wind and solar farms in the UK