Lincolnshire Co-op commits to sustainability with a £2m solar expansion.
- The expansion spans 62 new solar-powered store sites by 2025.
- Solar energy usage is set to significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
- Partnership with SOL PV Group led initial solar implementations.
- Lincolnshire Co-op extends efforts to reduce food waste with technological tools.
Lincolnshire Co-op is demonstrating its commitment to a sustainable future by investing over £2 million in solar panel installations across an additional 62 stores. Previously, the retailer operated 11 sites equipped with solar panels, generating 225,000 kilowatt-hours annually. The new installations are expected to produce an additional 1.8 million kilowatt-hours per year.
Approximately 30% of the energy used by buildings with these solar panels will be sourced from solar energy. This initiative is anticipated to decrease Lincolnshire Co-op’s overall indirect CO2 emissions by an estimated 10%. The rollout of these panels involved collaboration with energy savings experts, SOL PV Group, to establish the first eight sites located in food stores in areas such as Scawby, Morton Bourne, and Barrowby in Grantham.
The remaining 54 sites, predominantly food stores, are scheduled to be fitted with solar panels by the summer of 2025. Will Tucker, Lincolnshire Co-op’s sustainability adviser, emphasised the importance of this investment, stating that it illustrates the organisation’s dedication to improving the quality of life in their communities and caring for the local environment.
In addition to solar energy, Lincolnshire Co-op has implemented other energy-efficient measures, such as using LED lighting and management systems for heating and lighting regulation. Fridge doors installed in most stores have resulted in an approximate 27% reduction in electricity usage.
Moreover, Lincolnshire Co-op has strengthened its collaboration with Retail Insight to tackle food waste. As part of this four-year extended partnership, an enhanced version of ‘Waste Trim’—a data-led software feature designed to optimise stock assortment and minimise overstocking—will be rolled out across stores to further diminish food waste.
Lincolnshire Co-op’s strategic investments in solar panels and waste reduction technologies underscore its commitment to sustainability and community improvement.
