Tesco inks wind farm clean energy deal in net zero push

Tesco has inked a deal to purchase enough clean energy to power the equivalent of more than 80 average-sized supermarkets a year from a wind farm under construction in Scotland.

The move comes as the supermarket giant looks to reach net zero emissions across its operations by 2035.

It has signed a deal to take 150GWh of power a year from a wind farm currently being made in Dumfries and Galloway.

EDF Renewables began construction of the Stranoch Wind Farm – which will feature 20 turbines generating 102MW – earlier this week, with the farm due to be up and running by 2026.

The wind farm is set to dole out more than £500,000 each year to support local projects and initiatives through a Community Benefit Fund. During its minimum 30-year lifecycle, this contribution is set to top £15m.

Along with Tesco, defence firm BAE Systems will procure a chunk of the electricity from the wind farm to supply around 40% of its UK energy demand while a third business buying the remaining electricity will soon be announced.

Tesco signed a similar deal with an EDF wind farm that was opened in North Lanarkshire at the end of February.


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Tesco says it has already met its 2030 ambition to switch to 100% renewable electricity in its own operations across the Tesco Group ten years early, through a mixture of direct sourcing and renewable certificates.

The retailer is now moving to ensure the majority of this renewable electricity comes from direct sourcing.

Andy Henley, Tesco corporate finance director, said: “Scaling up the production of clean renewable energy has never been more important, so we’re delighted that five new renewable electricity sites have started generating clean green power for Tesco.

“These new sites are a sign of the strong progress we’re making across our PPA portfolio, and our partnership with EDF Renewables UK, Stranoch, moves us closer towards our target of reaching carbon neutrality in our own operations by 2035.”

In April this year, it was revealed Tesco had cut its energy consumption by as much as 10% thanks to a trial which involves raising the temperature of its fridges by one degree.

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