In one of the largest green energy transition projects, 28 stores of retailers Auchan and Leroy Merlin are equipped with more than 27,000 photovoltaic panels in a partnership with Helexia, a subsidiary of Voltalia, a major European supplier for energy transition. 12.8 MW installed power and an area of over 63,000 square meters, representing around 9 soccer fields. The photovoltaic installations cover approximatively 20% of each store’s energy consumption and lead to a total approximate production of more than 14,000 MWh per year. Also, by developing this green energy project, the companies actively contribute to reducing the negative impact on the environment, avoiding the production of more than 8000 tons of CO2 annually.
16 Auchan and 12 Leroy Merlin stores across the country are part of a large-scale project to equip them with photovoltaic panels, covering a total area of more than 63,000 square meters. On the roof of each store, an average of about 1000 panels are installed, with an average power of 400 W/panel, providing up to 20-30% of a store’s anual energy consumption.
The development, construction and maintenance of solar roofs are provided by Helexia, a major player in the energy transition sector, present in Romania since 2022. In addition to energy production, Helexia addresses with financing solutions, electric mobility or energy efficiency projects to help organisations in Romania to decarbonise their operations.
“It is a privilege to expand our successful partnership with Leroy Merlin and Auchan Retail in Central Europe. Today, as we inaugurate these projects, we reaffirm our belief that Romania is a fundamental piece in our global puzzle and we are proud to have made this investment in its future. Being a successful global player means we must excel at being a local business partner.“
Benjamin Simonis,
CEO of Helexia Group
For Auchan, the project to install photovoltaic panels is part of the decarbonisation and green energy transition measures already set out in the 2030 Climate Plan, with the aim of having a direct impact in the fight against climate change. Alongside this, in line with the company’s strategy to decarbonise its operations, in 2022 the retailer has started an extensive set of actions to ensure that the company’s energy consumption decreases by 20%.
“Climate change and decarbonising operations is a vitally important issue for us and future generations. That is why we have made a strong commitment to continue to invest in measures to protect the planet, with the photovoltaic panel project being one of these initiatives. 16 of our stores are equipped with more than 18,000 panels, saving us around 20% of a store’s consumption. The savings already made through energy efficiency and the energy sobriety plan we have in place are making an important contribution to keeping prices low day by day. We thank the Helexia team for their support in this transition and in accelerating the achievement of our Climate Plan objectives.“
Ionuț Ardeleanu,
General Manager Auchan Retail Romania
For Leroy Merlin, this initiative is a concrete manifestation of the company’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. From 2022 onwards, the retailer has set itself the target of reducing its carbon footprint by 5% each year, so that by 2035 it will halve it compared to the baseline year. To achieve this ambitious goal, Leroy Merlin has implemented a series of innovative measures, from offering sustainable solutions for the energy renovation of Romanians’ homes, to decarbonising its product offering and optimising its transport solutions.
“We’re committed to contributing to a healthier planet, happier people and prosperity through steady, incremental action. We have reduced lighting in parking lots at night, conducted energy audits and introduced LED and motion sensor lighting. We’ve also replaced halogen bulbs with LED bulbs and, through our tree recycling campaign, we’re turning used trees into environmentally friendly products. The photovoltaic panels installed on the store roofs are helping us to save up to 27% of our energy and we would like to thank our partners at Helexia for their support in realising this project.“
Ionuț Ardeleanu,
General Manager Auchan Retail Romania
The ambitions and development plans for the coming years were presented by the three CEOs on Monday, September 2, during the inauguration of the photovoltaic installations. Mr. Mircea Fechet, Minister of the Environment, Water and Forests and Dragoș Roibu, Cabinet Director – Ministry of Energy, were also present at the event, marking the importance of energy independence and the role of such measures in protecting the environment.
