Leading supermarket chain Carrefour has announced a strategic partnership with photovoltaic specialist GreenYellow to equip 350 supermarket parking lots with solar panels. This initiative is part of a proactive approach by Carrefour to anticipate the legal obligations imposed by the APER law, which requires the installation of photovoltaic shading systems on parking lots of over 1,500 m² by 2028.
The aim of this collaboration is ambitious: to produce around 450 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, equivalent to the consumption of a town with a population of 200,000. With this project, Carrefour hopes to meet 20% of its stores’ electricity needs, while selling surplus production that is not stored.
A Commitment to 100% Renewable Energy
This initiative is part of Carrefour’s strategy to achieve electricity consumption based exclusively on renewable energies by 2030. GreenYellow will finance these installations in full, enabling Carrefour to benefit from very attractive rates for this green energy.
Implementing this project represents a major challenge in terms of logistics and production. Indeed, three mass retail organizations had previously criticized the timetable imposed by the APER law, arguing that French production capacity would be insufficient to meet demand by 2028.
GreenYellow: A Strategic Partner
GreenYellow, founded in 2007 by the Casino Group, is now a major player in the field of renewable energies. Recently, Casino sold its entire stake in GreenYellow for 46 million euros, due to financial difficulties. This change of ownership has not prevented GreenYellow from continuing to develop large-scale projects, such as the one in partnership with Carrefour.
The installation of these solar shadings will not only reduce Carrefour’s carbon footprint, but also demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of renewable energy solutions in the retail sector.
Towards an Accelerated Energy Transition
Carrefour not only anticipates future regulations, but also shows the way forward for other players in the sector. By aiming for 100% renewable electricity consumption by 2030, the company is underlining its commitment to the environment and the energy transition.
This initiative could inspire other retail chains to adopt similar solutions, contributing to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions across the sector.
The partnership between Carrefour and GreenYellow represents a significant step towards greater use of renewable energies. This ambitious and innovative project marks an important step in the energy transition of France’s retail sector, and could serve as a model for other companies wishing to follow suit.
