SPAR Austria powers 100 stores with solar energy
SPAR Austria invests annually about €1 million in the expansion of solar energy, and plans to roll out solar power systems in additional stores nationwide.
SPAR Austria installed this month a solar power system on the roof of a store in Wolkersdorf, Lower Austria, bringing the number of solar-powered SPAR stores to 100, according to a company’s press release.
SPAR Austria invests annually about €1 million in the expansion of solar energy, and plans to roll out solar power systems in additional stores nationwide. With the electricity generated on rooftops, SPAR powers instore cooling, lighting, and IT systems.
Commenting on the ongoing expansion of solar power systems, SPAR Austria Board Director Hans K. Reisch noted that “the 100 power plants on the roofs of SPAR stores produce 4.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity every year,” which is used directly onsite.
SPAR Austria intends to reduce its instore energy consumption by 50% by 2050, compared to 2009, and to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 90%.
The origins of SPAR in Austria date back to 1954, but the current SPAR AG was created in 1970 when the original founding families joined with other regional wholesalers to form SPAR Austria AG – a 100% privately owned Austrian company. With licences granted by SPAR International, ASPIAG (Austria SPAR International AG) has also developed SPAR in Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, and Northern Italy.
