Lincolnshire Co-op

Lincolnshire Co-op is installing solar panels at eight stores

Lincolnshire Co-operative Society has invested £120,000 in installing solar panels at eight of its food stores.

Panels are currently being fitted at its Market Rasen store. Seven other sites will have panels fitted by the end of the year.

They are expected to produce more than 71,000kWh of energy a year – enough to power 258 fridge freezers.

The society installed solar panels at its Winning Post foodstore and forecourt in Lincoln in April 2011. Since then, the panels have produced 18,026kWh of energy – enough to keep six homes running for a year.

“Cutting our energy use is something we’re constantly working on, be it with more efficient freezers, LED lighting or smart meters to measure what energy we’re using and where,” said Lincolnshire Co-op store development manager Matthew Wilkinson.

“Every bit of green energy we produce helps the environment and we’re excited to be following on from our successful solar panel trial at Winning Post with eight more sites.”