Tesco is soon to commence deliveries using five zero-emissions refrigerated trailers, becoming the first UK supermarket to adopt a wholly solar and battery powered road transport cold chain solution.
The supermarket has taken delivery of five of British sustainable-powered refrigeration company Sunswap’s Endurance units, to replace diesel transport refrigeration on major routes.
Until recently, keeping food chilled and frozen on the road has meant running diesel engines on the back of trucks – generating emissions and burning fuel even when vehicles are stationary. Sunswap’s zero-emission unit instead uses roof-mounted solar panels and batteries to maintain temperatures without diesel.
The deployment follows trials of the Endurance unit across multiple temperature zones and delivery distances – even during hot summer conditions. Tesco’s triple temperature trailers will transport fresh produce, dairy, and frozen foods in separate compartments.
“We have an ambitious goal for carbon neutrality across our own operations by 2035 and net zero across our value chain by 2050,” said Cliff Smith, fleet engineering manager at Tesco. “Our trial with Sunswap demonstrated solar and battery power can be used successfully across our road transport cold chain, reducing emissions while maintaining optimal temperatures across frozen, chilled, and ambient deliveries.”
Sunswap already works with Samworth Brothers, Staples Vegetables and Cranswick, and has previously run trials with Müller Milk & Ingredients. In April, Birds Eye revealed it was using two Endurance units to power the refrigeration units of two lorries making deliveries between its production facility at Lowestoft and its distribution hub at Wisbech.
The British engineering company in January announced the launch of a new manufacturing plant in Surrey to meet demand. The Leatherhead facility – which will create 75 jobs – follows a £17.3m Series B funding round for the company, which was founded in 2020.
“Tesco choosing Sunswap Endurance for its fleet is a landmark moment for sustainable food transport,” said Michael Lowe, CEO of Sunswap. “When a retailer of Tesco’s scale deploys electric refrigeration across operations, it validates the technology for the entire industry and accelerates adoption.”
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