The company is working with UK energy company E.ON and Geothermal International to roll out the first phase of the energy solution and aims to deliver up to 100MW of renewable energy in supermarkets by the end of 2016.

The project is part of Sainsbury’s 20 by 20 sustainability plan, which includes a renewables commitment to reduce its absolute operational carbon emissions by 30% and delivering a fully renewable heat strategy for its supermarkets by 2030.

Neil Sachdev, Sainsbury’s property director, said: “The roll out of this technology with our partners is an important milestone in our renewables commitment.

“It supports job creation in the renewable energy sector and our goal to reduce our absolute operational carbon emissions by 2020, as well as delivering energy cost savings for our business,” he added.

E.ON and Geothermal International will install and operate pioneering geo-thermal heat pump technology to improve store energy consumption.

Michael Woodhead, managing director of E.ON’s Sustainable Energy, said: “We’ve often said the most efficient power station is the one we don’t have to build and this technology is an excellent solution to deliver locally produced, renewable energy at a scale that really makes a difference.

“We’re delighted to have signed up for the first ten stores and we hope very much to extend the number of sites to help meet Sainsbury’s environmental ambitions, working together to make the best use of the natural resources on offer,” he added.

Leigh Stringer

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