Mercadona plans to invest approximately 60 million euros in 2023 in the installation of solar panels on its roofs. According to his calculations, each of the stores with this installation saves approximately 20% of its annual energy consumption compared to a store without this energy installed and reduces the emission of approximately 30 tons of CO2 per supermarket.
The commitment to obtain energy in a sustainable way started at the end of 2020 in some of the company's stores. In 2021, it strengthened its commitment to photovoltaic self-consumption and in 2022 it invested 14 million euros in the installation of new solar panels, with which it has avoided the emission of 3,000 tons of CO2 in one year.
The supermarket chain currently uses this renewable energy source in 114 stores, 9 logistics blocks, 3 Colmenas (exclusive warehouse for online sales) and in the newly opened offices that the company has located in Albalat dels Sorells (Valencia).
The company's forecast is to have a total of approximately 350 stores by the end of 2023 and to increase the number of logistics blocks and hives with solar panels on their roofs. With all this installed power, they hope to save energy equivalent to the accumulated annual consumption of 125 stores.
The objective for the year 2027, at which time the company has defined its roadmap with the motto "Whoever has a roof, has a treasure", is to have self-consumption in more than 850 stores and in all its logistics blocks and hives, which will mean savings in electricity equivalent to the consumption of 300 stores.
