Sainsbury’s has successfully enhanced its renewable energy portfolio by completing the Pines Burn Wind Farm in the Scottish Borders, marking a significant step in its sustainability efforts.
The Pines Burn Wind Farm, featuring seven newly constructed turbines, contributes 33.6 megawatts (MW) of electrical capacity to the power grid. This development is expected to generate approximately 92,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity annually, representing around 8% of Sainsbury’s annual energy requirements.
Since July 2022, the project has been under construction, and with its completion, Sainsbury’s has committed to purchasing 100% of the renewable energy it produces over the next 15 years. This not only underlines Sainsbury’s commitment to sustainable energy but also supports its broader sustainability strategy, known as the Plan for Better.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Director of Property, Procurement, and EV Ventures, remarked, “We’re very proud to be celebrating our eighth wind farm in Scotland following the completion of Longhill Burn in West Lothian last autumn. A state-of-the-art, sustainable source of new wind power, Pines Burn Wind Farm is helping us take another fantastic step towards reducing our reliance on carbon.”
The supermarket has been at the forefront of renewable energy adoption, being the first UK retailer to directly purchase wind energy for its operations, starting in 2008. The continued investment in wind energy cements Sainsbury’s position as a leader in sustainable technology adoption.
The completion of Pines Burn follows the earlier construction of the Longhill Burn Wind Farm, which, as of last October, was estimated to provide up to a third of Sainsbury’s electricity needs.
This new wind farm signifies not just an expansion of Sainsbury’s renewable energy capabilities, but a resolute move towards a more sustainable future.
