Lincolnshire Co-op is investing more than £2m into installing solar panels at an additional 62 stores.

The convenience retailer previously operated 11 sites with solar panels, generating 225,000 kilowatt hours (KWH) a year, while the new sites are anticipated to produce an additional 1.8m KWH a year.

Buildings with solar panels will use approximately 30% solar energy and Lincolnshire Co-op’s overall indirect CO2 emissions will be reduced by an estimated 10%.

The retailer has been working with energy savings experts SOL PV Group to get the first eight sites up and running in food stores in Scawby, Morton Bourne, Barrowby in Grantham, Barnetby le Wold, Springfield Road in Grantham, and Clipstone, Keelby, and Skellingthorpe Road in Lincoln.

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The remaining 54 sites – the majority of which will be food stores – will be fitted by summer 2025.

Lincolnshire Co-op sustainability adviser Will Tucker said: “Fitting an additional 62 sites with solar panels is a significant investment, and demonstrates Lincolnshire Co-op’s commitment to a greener future.

“Making life better in our communities is at the heart of everything we do and caring for our local environment is a vital element of that.”

In other areas, Lincolnshire Co-op has used LED lighting and introduced management systems that regulate heating and lighting to contribute to efficiency, while fridge doors have been installed in most stores, meaning that the retailer’s fridges use 27% less electricity on average.

It comes as Lincolnshire Co-op has extended its partnership with Retail Insight for an additional four years to reduce food waste across its store estate.

As part of the extended collaboration, the grocer will roll out an enhanced version of the in-store execution software provider’s ‘Waste Trim’ feature, which uses a data-led model to optimise stock assortment, minimise overstocking and further cut food waste.