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Tesco has announced its partnership with Low Carbon to create three new solar farms in a new effort to reach net zero emissions by 2035.
The new solar farms are situated in Essex, Anglesey and Oxfordshire and will aim to generate up to 130 giga-watt hours of energy per year, which equals to enough power for over 44,000 three-bedroom homes in the UK.
Stores will be fitted with solar panels as part of the retailers renewable electricity roll-out, 60 stores have already been fitted.
The retailer has also launched a new electric delivery fleet which was introduced in London as part of the company’s plan to go fully electric by 2028.
To help bring forward its ambition to become net zero in the UK by 2035, 15 years earlier than planned, Tesco said it is taking “new action” to help tackle the two biggest sources of emissions in the UK, electricity production and transport.
Tesco has also announced its commitment to use 100% renewable electricity across the Tesco Group by 2030 and hopes to save “30,308 tonnes of CO2” per year, the equivalent of taking 14,457 cars off the road.
Jason Tarry, CEO for Tesco UK and ROI, said: “In 12 months’ time, the UK will host the most critical climate change summit of the decade, known as COP26. At Tesco we want 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 per cent renewable energy by 2030.”
The current project follows the supermarket’s announcement last year that it would begin sourcing renewable energy from five onshore wind farms.
To support the wider adoption of electric vehicles across the nation, Tesco said it will be “rolling out 2,400 charging points” for customers across 600 stores, with 400 stores due to be fitted with the chargers by the end of 2020.
