Co-op has signed a 15-year deal for the entire output of a 34-megawatt solar farm, which will provide enough electricity to power more than 170 of its food stores or 500 Funeralcare homes.
The agreement with international renewable energy specialist Voltalia will see the convenience retailer sourcing electricity for its estate from the Eastgate Solar project near Scarborough.
Early construction works have started on the farm, which is set to be fully operational in 2025.
It will feature 62,500 solar panels once complete and when all are operating at maximum capacity, they will provide enough electricity to supply up to 7.5% of Co-op’s total electricity needs per year.
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Co-op’s commitment will unlock the investment required to build the solar plant and will help to add additional renewable generation to the UK.
This comes as the retailer continues to call for energy market reform. It is working towards reaching net zero for its operations by 2035.
Co-op group CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq said said the signing of the deal marks “a significant milestone demonstrating Co-op’s goal to green the energy grid and create transparency in the renewable energy market”.
“Not only will this agreement unlock more green energy, it will also enable energy security, drive economic growth and move us closer to net zero.”
She said that Co-op is urging the government to prioritise grid decarbonisation, adding that reform is “urgently needed”.
“Whilst the significant progress the UK has made to date is to be applauded, as a country we remain too reliant on fossil fuels, and ambitious targets alone won’t deliver the benefits that a net zero grid will deliver, from energy security to lower generation costs to the better outcome for the planet that’s so desperately needed.”
