Tesco's Solar Initiative Powers 144 Food Stores

The supermarket Tesco is implementing a comprehensive strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, focusing on several key areas:

• Electrifying its home delivery fleet by 2030
• Improving store energy efficiency with technologies like heat pumps
• Setting science-based targets to reduce operational emissions by 85% by 2030
• Working with suppliers to address supply chain emissions

As a major food retailer, Tesco is also taking a leadership role in renewable energy adoption. The company has signed the UK's largest corporate solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and highlighting the growing importance of renewable energy in the business world.

This landmark PPA, facilitated by EDF, secures 65% of the solar power generated by Cleve Hill Solar Park in north Kent. This significant move not only supports Tesco's sustainability goals but also contributes to the broader transition towards renewable energy in the corporate sector. 

The UK's largest solar project powering Tesco's green future

Cleve Hill is the biggest solar and battery storage project ever built on UK soil, with a capacity of 373MW. It is set to be operational in 2025 and will become a cornerstone of the nation’s green energy infrastructure.

Matthew Nunn, Director of EDF Business Solutions, says: “This is being delivered utilising EDF’s unrivalled energy market knowledge and expert trading capabilities, to guarantee a reliable source of clean and affordable energy. It’s great to see solar power playing such an important role in Tesco’s progress towards carbon neutrality.”

Key Features of Cleve Hill Solar Park:

• Capacity: 373MW
• Solar panels: 560,000+
• Classification: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP)
• Operational date: Early 2025

The PPA, which secures 65% of the solar power generation from the park, will last 15 years. This is a testament to Tesco’s clear dedication to lowering its carbon footprint and achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. 

This is enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 144 large stores for one whole year.

“We’re delighted to be announcing such a significant step in our journey towards carbon neutrality across our own operations by 2035,” said Ken Murphy, Group CEO of Tesco. “Cleve Hill solar park, with its ability to generate up to 10% of our UK electricity demand, joins a number of other Power Purchase Agreements we’ve announced over the last five years. With its ability to provide vital energy storage infrastructure, it’s a key part of the renewable energy strategy in the UK and further evidence of our commitment to tackle climate change and source green electricity from innovative projects like this.”

“Tesco’s commitment to Cleve Hill Solar Park underscores the value of the project which has set new benchmarks for UK solar,” said Keith Gains, Managing Director and UK Regional Lead at Quinbrook, which is building Cleve Hill. “Quinbrook is proud of developing Cleve Hill as we believe it is a blueprint for the next generation of energy transition infrastructure in the UK.”

Tesco is pioneering sustainable retail with Cleve Hill solar partnership

The Tesco-Cleve Hill agreement represents a significant milestone in the UK's journey towards net-zero emissions. This partnership goes beyond corporate sustainability, playing a crucial role in the nation's renewable energy transition. In the first quarter of 2023, renewables generated 48% of UK electricity, a dramatic increase from just 7% in 2010, according to UK Parliament data.

Tesco's comprehensive approach to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035 includes:

• Transitioning to an electric home delivery fleet by 2030
• Reducing food waste by 50% by 2025
• Achieving deforestation-free status for key commodities
• Promoting sustainable consumption

The company has set science-based targets to reduce operational emissions by 85% by 2030 and cut supply chain emissions by 55% by 2032. Tesco has already achieved 100% renewable electricity in its operations and is working with suppliers to implement their own net-zero plans by the end of 2023.

Additional initiatives include achieving 100% deforestation-free status for primary risk commodities by 2025, increasing healthy food sales to 65% by 2025, and participating in programmes like Science-Based Targets for Nature to ensure supply chain traceability.

“With the effects of climate change now upon us, we’re absolutely committed to achieving our target of net zero by 2050. It will require us to transform the way we run our business, from how we produce our products in partnership with our suppliers, how we run our stores and transport network and how we encourage our customers to make healthy and sustainable choices,” Ken continues. “We’ve led the way on action on climate change, from adopting 100% renewable electricity across the group to scaling innovations in our supply chains. We now must work even harder, in collaboration with our suppliers and partners, to achieve our goals. These ambitious targets, validated by the SBTi, now provide us with a clear roadmap of action over the next ten years and beyond.”

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