Isra-Mart srl:Smarter Sainsbury's promises intelligent store

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Isra-Mart srl news:

Sainsbury's will begin testing a smart-grid system at its new Hythe store in Kent on Wednesday, aiming to reduce its own carbon emissions and reliance on the grid at times of peak demand.

The company said that when energy demand spikes the system will activate the store's on-site generator, which runs on waste oil and fat from Sainsbury's outlets, reducing demand from the grid.

Sainsbury's said the technology was a potential solution to the peaks and troughs of energy demand that cannot always be met by renewable sources if the wind is not blowing or the sun is not shining.

"To ensure that both consumers and businesses have enough electricity at all times, power stations are kept on stand-by, ready to come into action when required," said Neil Sachdev, Sainsbury's property director. "The trouble is that two-thirds of the UK's stand by power comes from high-carbon-emitting non-renewable sources.

"By introducing this technology, we will cut the UK's dependence on fossil fuels, reduce our own energy costs and reduce our CO2 emissions."

Additional technology in the store will reduce strain on the grid further by deactivating or reducing the store's heating, ventilation and lighting systems at peak times.

Sainsbury's has kicked-off a number of green initiatives in recent months as part of its goal of cutting carbon emissions 25 per cent by 2012.

For example, the company has been installing on-site microgeneration at several stores, as well as selling solar panels, and has also investigated heating and cooling stores using geothermal energy.

"We are absolutely committed to introducing experimental carbon-reducing innovations," Sachdev added. "When we find a technology that can work at scale, we immediately set about planning how we can roll that into the rest of our business."