Greenfood establishes one of Sweden's largest rooftop solar farms
Greenfood is one of Northern Europe's leading players in healthy food. The group has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by an increased demand for sustainable and healthy food. To strengthen its position and offer even better service to its customers, Greenfood has established Greenhouse - a state-of-the-art food facility in Helsingborg.
“The aim for Greenhouse was to envision a future food and logistics center emphasizing modern technology and sustainability. The property is at the forefront of energy and environmental efficiency. Now we are taking the next step and making Greenhouse even greener by installing one of Sweden's largest solar installations," says Lisa Isakson, Sustainability Manager at Greenfood.
The production from the solar cells is equivalent to the household electricity that 700 average villas, or 1750 apartments consume annually. The production will cover about 20 percent of the Greenfood Group's electricity needs and is expected to reduce CO2e emissions by 150 tons of CO2e per year.
Greenhouse represents one of Greenfood's most substantial investments, enhancing our production capacity, storage, and automation.
"The investment in solar cells makes operations more sustainable, both in terms of the environment and economy, and is a crucial piece of the puzzle in reducing our carbon footprint," says Ted Stenshed, CEO of the Greenfood Fresh Produce business area and project manager for Greenhouse.
An important step to reaching Greenfood’s climate goals
The solar installation at Greenhouse marks the group's fifth such endeavor, taking a crucial step towards reducing our carbon footprint. Greenfood is also planning further major measures to achieve the group's ambitious climate goals, which were recently approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). This will be achieved through investments in, among other things, a more sustainable assortment, as well as electric vehicles, both internally and in the logistics chain.
SBTi is a global standard that helps companies set science-based climate goals in line with the requirements to achieve the Paris Agreement. Greenfood has committed to the most ambitious SBTi goal, which is to keep warming below 1.5 degrees.
Increasing the production of renewable electricity in the Helsingborg region
Greenfood and Öresundskraft have signed a so-called PPA agreement (Power Purchase Agreement) for the solar installation. This means Öresundskraft owns and is responsible for the entire lifecycle of the solar facility, from design and construction to operation and maintenance. Greenfood buys the solar power at a fixed price, thus obtaining price security in the company's electricity trading costs. The agreement lasts for 19 years and provides both a larger proportion of secured electricity supply for Greenfood and an increase in the production of locally produced, renewable electricity in the region.
Niklas Leweus, Strategic Key Account Manager at Öresundskraft, explains the new contract form: "The PPA approach is a fresh business model we're exploring, aiming to empower our customers to make strategic energy decisions and champion sustainability. This large-scale solar installation, which will also become one of the largest in Sweden, is strategically important for Helsingborg's future energy supply and contributes to achieving the city's significant climate and energy goals."
Facts about the solar installation:
Surface of solar modules: 17,800 m2, excluding walkways. Maximum use of roof space.
Number of panels: 6,916.
Installed peak power: 3.8 MW (3,800 kW).
Annual production: 3,500,000 kWh.
