The Warehouse Group, a leading retail company in New Zealand, has made a long-term agreement with Lodestone Energy to power more than 260 of its sites with solar farms. This agreement will cover The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming, Torpedo7 stores, as well as the group’s distribution centers and store support offices.
Lodestone Energy, working with a retail service provider, will implement metering and billing techniques that will allow the company’s solar farm production to offset the electricity demand of The Warehouse Group’s stores across the country. It is part of The Warehouse Group’s commitment to reaching zero emissions by 2040, and this move to solar electricity will help achieve that goal years in advance.
The transition to solar energy is expected to eliminate close to 100 percent of all New Zealand electricity emissions from The Warehouse Group’s operations by the end of December 2026. This will result in avoiding approximately 5300 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Lodestone Energy’s managing director, Gary Holden, emphasized the flexibility and competitive pricing structure of the agreement for The Warehouse Group. He noted that the operational hours of The Warehouse Group’s stores align well with the peak energy production of solar panels. This arrangement allows for the benefits of solar energy without the limitation of physical space on rooftops.
The partnership between The Warehouse Group and Lodestone Energy exemplifies the growing trend of businesses transitioning to renewable energy sources to reduce their environmental impact. It is a significant step towards a more sustainable future for the retail industry in New Zealand.
Sources:
– The Warehouse Group aims for zero emissions with solar farm agreement (Stuff)
– The Warehouse Group partners with Lodestone Energy for solar power supply (NZ Herald)