Isra-Mart srl:Tesco unveils wind-powered distribution centres

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Isra-Mart srl news:

Tesco has installed four wind turbines to power three of its grocery distribution centres as part of the retail giant's efforts to become a zero-carbon business by 2050.

Two of the 90-metre 800kW turbines are set to power the Magor distribution centre near Newport in Wales, while two adjacent sites near Daventry have each been fitted with one of the turbines.

Tesco said the turbines would meet a "significant amount" of the centres' energy need, although it could not confirm precisely how much. Any surplus power generated will be sold to the national grid, the company added.

"The wind turbines will make a major contribution to our electricity needs at the distribution centres, in a clean and quiet manner," added Jake Ronay, renewables programme manager at Tesco. "This is just another step in our long-term plan to seek alternative solutions to cut carbon emissions. Each year the turbines will save approximately 3,200 tonnes of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere."

The turbines are the latest high-profile addition to Tesco's environmental strategy, which also includes plans to create zero-carbon stores in Wales and Lincolnshire, and take 100,000 delivery lorries off the roads by shifting to rail freight.

Last year, Tesco was one of several large companies to write to the EU attempting to persuade Commissioners to raise the bloc's carbon-cutting target from a 20 per cent to a 30 per cent reduction by 2020.