Iceland Foods Limited is accelerating its commitment to sustainability through a new partnership with renewable technology provider Shawton Energy to install rooftop solar systems across multiple sites within its retail estate. The combined capacity of these installations will reach up to 10MWp, generating enough clean energy to power roughly 3,000 UK homes and cutting 2,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This ambitious rollout forms part of Iceland’s broader strategy to reduce its environmental impact and advance towards its target of net zero carbon by 2040.

Iceland, a staple in the UK grocery sector for over 50 years and now a fast-growing retailer with nearly 1,000 stores nationwide, has been expanding its footprint with larger-format stores branded as The Food Warehouse, of which there are currently 200. The initial solar installations have begun at the Penny Lane store in Liverpool and the Queensferry Food Warehouse, delivering 88kW and 115kW systems respectively. Together, these are expected to save the company over 40,000kg of CO2 annually. Additional stores slated for solar panel installation include locations in Coventry, Shrewsbury, Doncaster, Leicester, Waterlooville, Ellesmere Port, and Dover, among others.

This partnership leverages Shawton Energy’s expertise in designing, developing, funding, and managing rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model. This arrangement allows Iceland to access clean, on-site energy generation without any upfront capital investment. Jamie Shaw, CEO of Shawton Energy, highlighted the company's success in handling complex, multi-site solar rollouts within the UK retail sector, underscoring the strategic alignment with Iceland’s forward-thinking approach.

For Iceland, sustainability is a core business priority. Graham Ireland, Head of Energy & Mechanical Services at Iceland, stressed that the rooftop solar project constitutes a significant step toward reducing the company’s carbon footprint. He remarked that generating renewable energy on-site is a vital component of Iceland’s broader environmental strategy, which includes being the world’s first retailer to commit to net zero carbon by 2040—a full decade ahead of the Paris Agreement’s 2050 target. This pledge, made in 2021 when Iceland joined the Climate Pledge, involves rigorous greenhouse gas emissions measurement, the implementation of decarbonisation strategies, and the use of socially beneficial offsets to neutralise any remaining emissions.

Iceland’s ambitious renewable energy plan aligns with a broader movement within the UK retail food sector, as evidenced by Shawton Energy’s recent appointment to a similar framework agreement to support the Co-op in rolling out rooftop solar PV systems across its estate. With over 2,500 food stores, the Co-op is also targeting net-zero operations and utilises a PPA model to benefit from clean energy without upfront costs, illustrating growing momentum and collaboration in the retail sector to embrace sustainability initiatives.

This coordinated advance towards renewable energy follows a broader trend of companies adopting innovative approaches to reduce their carbon impact. For example, Shawton Energy has supported other businesses such as Duo UK, a plastic packaging manufacturer, in installing large-scale rooftop solar systems that significantly cut carbon emissions, demonstrating how commercial enterprises across different sectors are striving for cleaner, greener operations.

While Iceland leads in the grocery sector with its net-zero commitment and substantial solar rollout, other companies and brands are also gaining recognition for their sustainability efforts. For instance, Saltverk, an Icelandic sea-salt producer, has been officially certified as climate neutral, offsetting its emissions via carbon-offset purchases, highlighting the diverse ways businesses are addressing climate responsibility globally.

Overall, Iceland’s partnership with Shawton Energy reflects a broader, hopeful narrative where major UK retailers are increasingly harnessing renewable energy technologies. This approach not only supports their corporate social responsibility goals but also offers resilience against energy market volatility, positioning them favorably in an environmentally conscious marketplace.

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Source: Noah Wire Services