Rooftop Solar Installations planned for 2 Major Supermarkets in the UK

Greenvolt Next UK has announced that it has successfully negotiated deals to install rooftop solar arrays on two major shopping centres in the UK. Greenvolt Next UK is part of the Greenvolt Group, a leading provider of decentralised energy solutions for the commercial and industrial sectors. Greenvolt Next UK has signed a contract with commercial real estate owner MDSR Investments to install PV solar rooftop panels on two of its UK shopping centres: the Weston Favell Shopping Centre in Northampton and Birchwood Shopping Centre in Warrington.

The two solar panel installations will have a combined capacity of 580kWp. At Weston Favell Shopping Centre, the new solar installation will include 848 solar panels with 381kWp installed capacity, spread across 4,114m2 of the centre’s roof space. The project is set to begin installation in early July and when completed is expected to generate over 330kWh of clean power per year, which is approximately 26 per cent of the site's total projected consumption. 

Work has already begun on the array for the Birchwood Shopping Centre. The installation is projected to generate approximately 154 kWh per year once completed, approximately 29 per cent of the centre's overall needs. The array on the Birchwood Shopping Centre will include 452 solar PV panels over 1,564 square metres with an installed capacity of 200kWp. 

The two solar systems combined will save more than 145 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, 98 tonnes for Weston Favel and 47 for Birchwood. This outcome contributes to MDSR’s overall mission to reduce the emissions of its real estate portfolio.

The installations have been financed under power purchase agreements (PPAs) with MDSR Investments, the commercial real estate owner of the two shopping centres. This allows MDSR to access clean, less expensive energy with no upfront investment.

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is a long-term contract between a power generator (seller) and a buyer (often a company or utility) for the purchase and sale of electricity. The agreement specifies the terms, conditions, and price for the electricity generated, usually from renewable sources like solar or wind. PPAs help both the generator and the buyer by providing financial stability, predictable pricing, and facilitating the transition to cleaner energy. 

Owen Power, chief executive of Greenvolt Next UK and Ireland, said: 

"We are thrilled to support MDSR on bringing on-site green energy to their UK retail premises. The large unused area of adaptable roof space that shopping centres have made them perfectly suited to integrate solar installations. This type of partnership provides the perfect opportunity to boost renewable energy generation with minimal disruption to building users, making optimal use of existing spaces that might otherwise remain underutilised."

The partnership builds on a project at MDSR's Nova Arcada shopping centre in the city of Braga, northern Portugal, where Greenvolt Group developed a 1.2 MWp installed capacity rooftop system with 2,164 solar panels. This project can generate 1,531 MWh of clean electricity per year, which is enough to help Nova Arcada avoid 303 tonnes of CO2 as well as cutting grid consumption by 34%.

Sandor Biro, Managing Director – UK, Portugal, MDSR Investments says: 

“Greenvolt Next has already helped us realise the benefits of on-site renewable energy at our Nova Arcada site in Portugal, and we want to continue the roll out of clean energy to our UK sites. With the help of Greenvolt Next UK, we are thrilled to be enabling renewable energy generation at Weston Favell and Birchwood, helping us achieve our broader decarbonisation goals and reduce energy costs.”

These are not the only examples of large-scale buildings looking towards solar PV to reduce their environmental impact. Back in March, health and wellness club operator the Bannatyne Group installed solar panels on the rooftops of eight of its sites by securing a PPA deal through a partnership with Shawton Energy. 

Just last month, it was announced that two local authority-owned leisure centres had received rooftop solar panel installations thanks to funding from Sports England. Workington Leisure Centre in Cumberland has been able to install a 160kW solar array due to this investment while Witham Leisure Centre near Braintree, Essex, has been able to complete a 407kW solar panel installation spread across its rooftops and a new solar carport.

Based in Warrington, Greenvolt Next UK was launched in early 2024 and aims to achieve a project portfolio of 100 MW by end of 2025. The company is currently managing a range of projects.

Greenvolt Next is supported by the pan-European platform of Greenvolt Group providing decentralised renewable energy solutions, including photovoltaic systems for both individual and collective self-consumption, energy efficiency measures, solar storage, and electric mobility. All of these are bolstered by flexible financing options such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), which ensures businesses gain access to cheaper, predictable renewable energy without the need for upfront investment. Greenvolt Next operates across 12 European countries, leveraging its scale and expertise to deliver integrated solutions that work for companies operating in multiple regions, as you can see in its agreement with MDSR Investments.

Following the acquisition of Kent Renewable Energy in 2024, and together with Tilbury Green Power, which has been part of the Group since 2021, Greenvolt Group is among the five largest producers of biomass-based electricity in the UK, with a total capacity of 88.7 MW. Greenvolt has also been expanding its Utility-Scale operation in the UK, with a 210 MW solar pipeline and 57 MW of battery storage. 

Installing new solar panel roofs on supermarkets is a significant step towards sustainability and cost reduction for these businesses. By choosing to use solar energy, supermarkets can lower their energy bills, enhance their brand image, and make a significant contribution to a cleaner, more resilient energy future. The increasing adoption of solar technology in the retail sector is driven by both environmental concerns and the potential for long-term cost savings.