Axfood continues to invest heavily in renewable energy. In addition to the entire Group’s fleet of approximately 270 trucks that are now running on fossil-free fuel, the process is being built Sweden largest solar park started last year. An agreement has now also been signed to build the country’s largest solar power plant on a roof by equipping Dagab’s new highly automated logistics center in Bålsta with solar panels covering an area of approximately 80,000 square meters.
“Our major investments in solar energy are part of our larger green transition that aims to create a more sustainable food system. Access to more renewable energy in society is crucial to slowing down climate change in time,” says Class BalkowPresident and CEO of Axfood.
The solar power plant on the roof is being built at Dagab’s new highly automated logistics center in Bålsta north of Stockholm and will include more than 16,000 panels on an area of approximately 80,000 square meters. The plant is expected to generate approximately 8.9 MW in full operation, which corresponds to an annual capacity of 7.8 GWh. The installation of the facility is expected to be completed in the autumn.
“The investment in solar cells will add an important new source of green energy and support the energy requirements of our highly automated logistics center in Bålsta, a unique facility of over 100,000 square meters which, when fully operational in 2023, will be one of the largest and most modern facilities in Europe for distribution of food to stores and online sales to millions of customers “, says Nicholas PetterssonCEO of Dagab, Axfoods purchasing and logistics companies.
The investment in the new solar power plant is a collaboration between Dagab, the landlord Logicenters and the supplier Solkompaniet. The arrangement is a power purchase agreement (PPA) according to which Axfood undertakes to buy all produced electricity for the next 25 years while installation, operation and maintenance will be handled by Logicenters and Solkompaniet. Axfood also has the opportunity to sell any surplus production.
Target for net zero emissions
Axfood has been working with solar power since 2013, when its first large-scale solar power plant was built at Dagab’s warehouse in Reverse outside Gothenburg. Since then, several stores and warehouses have installed their own solar power plants and more plan to do so in 2022. Last year, a collaboration was also initiated with the supplier Alight to build Sweden largest ground-mounted solar park. The plant is estimated to be in operation in 2024 and produce energy corresponding to approximately 15% of Axfood Groups total consumption. Solcellsparken is part of an initiative of Axel Johnsons Group companies that will double Sweden production capacity from solar parks through the addition of three large-scale facilities.
Reducing fossil emissions from our own operations has been a priority Axfood during many years. The results achieved are attributable to renewable electricity from solar, wind and hydropower, a higher proportion of fossil-free freight transport, fewer non-environmentally friendly refrigerators and freezers and smaller business trips by air. Last year, a milestone was reached when all of Dagab’s approximately 270 own trucks can now be run on fossil-free fuel. The overall goal is to achieve net zero emissions from own operations by 2030. Several activities are also being implemented to influence the climate impact from other parts of the value chain, both among suppliers and consumers.
For further information, contact:
Magnus Törnblom, press manager, +46 70 266 27 12, [email protected]
Axfood Axfood strives to be a leader in affordable, good and sustainable food. In our corporate family are the store chains Willys and Hemköp as well as Tempo and Handlar’n. B2B sales are handled through Snabbgross and our support company Dagab is responsible for the Group’s product development, purchasing and logistics. The Axfood family also includes Mat.se, Middagsfrid and Urban Deli as well as the partly owned companies Apohem, Eurocash, City Gross and Mathem. Together, the group has more than 12,000 employees and a turnover of approx SEK 58 billion. Axfood has been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since 1997 and is the main owner Axel Johnson AB. Read more at www.axfood.com.
https://news.cision.com/axfood/r/axfood-to-build-sweden-s-largest-rooftop-solar-power-facility,c3549735
https://mb.cision.com/Main/1306/3549735/1566603.pdf
https://news.cision.com/axfood/i/solceller-balsta,c3039959
https://news.cision.com/axfood/i/solceller-dagab-balsta,c3039915
https://news.cision.com/axfood/i/solceller-2-klas-balkow—foto-gustav-kaiser,c3039916
https://news.cision.com/axfood/i/nicholas-pettersson-foto-magnus-fond,c3039917
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