Sainsbury’s has made significant strides in its renewable energy initiatives with the commissioning of the new Pines Burn Wind Farm in the Scottish Borders.
This progressive move sees the supermarket chain committing to purchasing 100% of the renewable energy generated from this site over the next 15 years. The wind farm, which began construction in July 2022, comprises seven turbines and adds an impressive 33.6 megawatts (MW) of new electrical capacity to the national grid.
The projected annual electricity production from this venture is around 92,000 megawatt hours (MWh), providing the energy required for approximately 8% of Sainsbury’s annual usage. To put this into perspective, this output equates to about 3 million charging sessions at the retailer’s Smart Charge ultra-rapid EV charging service.
This initiative aligns with Sainsbury’s broader sustainability strategy. Patrick Dunne, the Director of Property, Procurement and EV Ventures at Sainsbury’s, expressed pride in this achievement. “We’re very proud to be celebrating our eighth wind farm in Scotland following the completion of Longhill Burn in West Lothian last autumn,” he remarked. Dunne emphasised that the Pines Burn Wind Farm further distances the company from carbon reliance, highlighting Sainsbury’s role as the inaugural UK retailer to directly purchase wind energy for business operations since 2008.
Moreover, the wind farm follows the success of the Longhill Burn Wind Farm, which, when completed last October, was anticipated to cover up to one-third of the company’s electricity requirements. These initiatives reflect Sainsbury’s long-standing commitment to investing in environmentally sustainable technologies.
The development of the Pines Burn Wind Farm underscores Sainsbury’s dedication to renewable energy and sustainable practices, marking a noteworthy advancement in its environmental strategy.
