Brakes switches on latest renewable energy initiative

Following a successful installation at its Harlow depot last year, Brakes has taken the next step to harnessing natural energy across its estate with a solar panel system at its Aylesford depot

The new 2,400 solar panel system will provide almost a quarter of the site’s energy requirement and will save the equivalent of approximately 200 tonnes of carbon every year. It is the latest step towards the science-based targets set out by Sysco, Brakes’ parent company, to cut carbon emissions by 27.5% between 2019 and 2030, and to move to 100% renewable electricity.

The Aylesford project is part of a phased programme of renewable energy projects that will see the company generate renewable energy at sites across Great Britain.

Peter Owen, Sysco GB Engineering and Environment Director, said: “We are helping to meet Sysco’s challenging global carbon reduction goals by tackling the energy consumption in our own transport and infrastructure here in Britain. We’ve seen this work well in Harlow with our first 1MW solar array. Now, our ambition is to roll this out and install solar wherever possible across our estate – generating our own source of renewable, clean energy. This is key to our decarbonisation strategy.”

The new installation supports Sysco’s ambitious, science-based climate goal to reduce emissions across its global operations and the company’s entire value chain. It will see the company reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 27.5% by 2030, and ensure that suppliers covering 67% of Sysco’s Scope 3 emissions establish science-based targets by 2026