3 minute read
Out the Box
by 55 North
Tesco shines on
The supermarket giant is trialling 100% solar-powered refrigerated units on the road as part of its long-term commitment to sustainability.
WHAT’S THE STORY?
Tesco has fitted a 13.6m refrigerated trailer with 12 lightweight solar panels and lithium batteries.
WHAT’S THE POINT?
The move, which will help to power the unit with clean energy, should help to slash the HGV’s overall diesel usage by around 2,000 litres a year. It should also save around five tonnes of carbon annually.
WHO’S TECH IS THIS?
The 100% solar powered trailers have been fitted with the Titan system from Marshall Fleet Solutions (MFS).
Available exclusively from Marshall, the Titan system’s design is capable of providing 100% free power to all makes of on-board refrigeration units and tail lifts on all vehicles sizes from vans, small trucks, to heavy commercial vehicles – both single- and multi-temperature.
It is available for new vehicles, and is also suitable for retrofitting to existing wagons.
MFS Managing Director, Mark Howell, commented: “With a significant trailer fleet, the successful use of solar powered refrigerated trailers within the Tesco distribution operation cannot be underestimated, in terms of its significantly positive environmental impact.”
WHAT IS TESCO SAYING ABOUT IT?
Tesco’s Fleet Engineering Manager, Cliff Smith, said: “We’ve got 4,200 trailers in our distribution fleet transporting fresh goods.
“Around 3,000 of those are refrigerated and, with a goal to bring carbon emissions to net zero by 2035 and the imminent removal of red diesel entitlements, we’ve had to look at the way our food gets to stores and customers.
“As a business we have looked at various options and through our long-standing relationship with Marshall Fleet Solutions we decided to trial the use of the Titan system on our fleet.
“So far we are finding that there is no detriment to operational performance, 100% saving on diesel costs and a good ROI.”
THEN WHAT?
The first trailer is based at Tesco’s Peterborough Distribution Centre, with three more planned for the site later this year.
WHAT ELSE IS TESCO DOING TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS?
Earlier this year Tesco also launched the UK’s first commercial fully electric articulated HGVs in partnership with international freight forwarding company FSEW. Since January 2022, two electric heavy freight articulated trucks have been transporting products emissions-free from Wentloog rail terminal outside Cardiff, to Tesco’s distribution centre in Magor, Wales.
The first two lorries are expected to replace around 65,000 diesel-fuelled road miles with clean green energy, removing 87.4 tonnes of CO2e per year.
To power the new service FSEW has installed charging points at its site in South Wales that provide enough energy to power these large vehicles for 100 miles before needing to charge again.
WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY GOAL?
Tesco has a net-zero target for operational emissions by 2035 in the UK and other markets.
