Concept for turning grocery stores carbon neutral by combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy production.
Food stores and warehouses consume a lot of electricity in refrigeration. K-Group accounts for approximately 1% of all electricity consumed in Finland. Transfer to renewable electricity supports the K-Group’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement’s targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goal ‘Affordable and clean energy’ and Goal ’Climate action’. K-Group with Granlund has developed an energy recycling model that can reduce heat consumption by as much as 95%, turning a property almost carbon-neutral in terms of energy. The system combines a very low-emission refrigeration system using natural refrigerants, a heat pump and recovery systems for energy recycling. It utilizes the condensation heat of cooling in heating the property. The innovation can reduce a property’s heat consumption by 90%, making a store almost carbon-neutral.
From 2016. K-Group has significantly increased its production and use of solar power. In 2016, Finland’s biggest rooftop solar power plant was completed on the rooftop of K-Citymarket Tammisto, Helsinki. By summer 2017, K-Group had four even bigger solar power plants than and as many as 16 solar power plants operating on the rooftops of stores. The investments make K-Group Finland’s biggest producer and user of solar power. Currently, K-Group in Finland has 34 solar power plants totalling 12 MW.
All electricity bought by Kesko in Finland for Kesko properties is from renewable sources.
Resources needed
Estimated 20 % of project costs covered by Business Finland energy aid. Estimated based on aid given the total system costs are around 10 M€. Systems require some maintenance staff.
Evidence of success
Combined with energy savings from Granlunds heat recovery system, a store can be turned fully carbon-neutral in practice.
For the fifth year in a row, Kesko ranks as the most sustainable trading sector company in the world on the Global 100 list.
Difficulties encountered
The ability of roofs to be able to hold up the weight of solar panels varies due to old preexisting buildings not having been designed with solar panels in mind. The strength of roofs has to be considered when building rooftop solar.
Potential for learning or transfer
The potential to use practice like this is even greater the further south one goes as the usefulness of solar panels increases in warmer countries.
Tags: Energy, Low-carbon, Renewables, Retail
