Tesco Ireland partners with Kildare-based Green Generation to reduce carbon emissions
Tesco becomes the first Irish retailer to purchase renewable gas made from its own surplus food to power stores
Print9 June 2020
Tesco Ireland says it’s set to reduce carbon emissions by 1,200 tonnes per annum through its partnership with Green Generation on a renewable gas initiative facilitated by Gas Networks Ireland.
The move, involving changes to its food management process at retail store level, will see enough renewable gas created from Tesco’s food surplus to power six of its stores in Ireland.
As the first, and only, retailer in Ireland to publish independently assured food waste data, Tesco has successfully achieved zero food waste to landfill since 2009.
As part of the new initiative, Green Generation will process Tesco’s remaining food surplus, which has not been donated to FoodCloud, Tesco’s surplus food charity partner since 2014, or given free of charge to colleagues, at its anaerobic-digestion plant in Nurney.
Circular economy approach
Fed into the gas network at nearby Cush, Co. Kildare, Tesco will now purchase the renewable gas outputs from the facility via Naturgy, the energy supplier, taking a circular economy approach to minimising its carbon footprint.
Gas Networks Ireland and Tesco Ireland are proud signatories of Business in the Community Ireland’s Low Carbon Pledge, a commitment towards decarbonisation.
“This new partnership with Green Generation aligns with our Little Helps Sustainability plan which guides us in tackling climate change and food waste and allows us to support indigenous and creative solutions to the increasing challenges faced by society as a result,” said Kari Daniels, CEO, Tesco Ireland.
“This new initiative will help us in our ambition to become a zero-carbon retailer by 2050, as we work together to support national and international climate action,” Daniels added.
Cush fully operational
The dedicated renewable gas entry point in Cush became fully operational in May and joined Corrib and Kinsale as the three indigenous gas sources on Ireland’s network. Once flowing at maximum capacity, Cush can supply renewable gas to approximately 11,000 homes. Green Generation, the company producing the carbon neutral gas, invested €2.5m in the Nurney facility.
Green Generation’s Billy Costello said he was proud to be working with Tesco, and a host of other Irish companies, including Diageo, to deliver renewable gas to Ireland’s gas network.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of developing a new green energy in partnership with Gas Networks Ireland and are delighted to reach this milestone and see renewable gas flowing on Ireland’s gas network,” Costello said.
Larger plans
Gas Networks Ireland invested €1.7m in the Cush injection point and is planning to develop larger renewable gas entry points across Ireland in the coming years.
Gas Networks Ireland managing director, Denis O’Sullivan, said Ireland’s challenge is to decarbonise in the most efficient way possible and that renewable gas, facilities like that in Cush and partnerships with companies of the calibre of Tesco and Diageo, are key to delivering on a cleaner energy future.
“Renewable gas is a key pillar in our vision to fully decarbonise the gas network by 2050, along with hydrogen and carbon capture and storage,” he said. “We are delighted to facilitate Tesco and Diageo in embracing this technology both as a supplier of waste and a user of clean energy.”
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