Insights – Energy Efficiency

What are the targets and specific actions to enhance energy efficiency at METRO?

Schulze: Globally, we have set the target to reduce the carbon energy demand per m² of our net operating area by 63% for electricity and by 43% for fossil heat until 2040 against 2011 levels. To reach these goals, we have developed a number of corresponding programmes: the Energy Saving programme (ESP) is to reduce the energy demand in our store operations, e.g. by LED lighting, by smart doors for frozen items and cold rooms for dairy products and by a digital Building Management System. The F-Gas Exit Programme (FEP) is to install new cooling equipment operating with natural refrigerants for our stores and depots. And the Heat Exit Programme (HEP) is to reduce the heat demand and phase out the usage of fossil heat with the technologies of heat recovery or heat pumps.

In addition, we have set up Zero Emission Unit Store (ZEUS) Initiative for new stores or depots so that they are run as climate neutral and high efficient wholesale facilities from day one.

Sounds like we need to make big investments in the infrastructural upgrade?

Schulze: Yes, we invest directly every year appx. 100 m€ in energy efficiency that saves OPEX and reduces our carbon footprint. Every year we complete appx. 40 new cooling projects and appx. 400 energy efficiency projects to upgrade our infrastructure ranging from illumination to heating systems in the existing stores and depots.

As our action must be reasonable and clever from the CAPEX perspective, we are operating with Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) partners, e.g. for Photovoltaic or EV Chargers, wherever this is profitable. In another project we are collaborating with industry partners to standardise and harmonise our cooling infrastructure from machinery to cooling devices, which also saves CAPEX and accelerates the FEP projects. Finally, in our newly constructed stores and depots we implement all these measures and technologies together, and such facilities are over 50% more energy efficient compared with existing sites.

And which measures have the greatest impact on enhancing energy efficiency?

Schulze: It´s the combination of all three programmes mentioned above: ESP focuses on reduction of the electricity consumed, HEP strives for less fossil heating and FEP brings down the electricity demand and emissions out of our cooling equipment. What is becoming increasingly apparent, as part of ESP, are Building Management Systems (BMS) that rely on building digitalisation to help save energy in all dimensions. Another important contribution comes from training and awareness of our employees when it comes to energy saving and efficiency. And, last but not least, the PV installation does not save electricity itself, but the generated electricity is cheaper compared to energy from the grid and carbon emission free.

Speaking of PV, how is METRO exploring green energy for its operations and logistics?

Schulze: In this regard we are very much on track. We already achieved our 2030 targets years ago, today already 5% of our global electricity is generated by own PV installations. And we will further expand the PV capacity going forward, often in collaboration with 3rd party operators, and thus raise the share of PV-generated electricity to 10% in a few years.

In addition, another 10% of our global electricity we buy is now also green from wind or solar offsite. We aim to elevate this share to 15%. We have recently closed offsite Power Purchasing Agreement for MAKRO Portugal and METRO France, and from 2026 onward also MAKRO Spain will be supplied with electricity from offsite Wind and Photovoltaics.

In logistics we are piloting electric trucks and hydrogen trucks for delivery operations in selected sites in Germany and Austria. We are hopeful of this new format which will clearly impact our carbon footprint. However, it will take more time and stronger collaboration with the truck industry to ensure profitability.

What role does technological innovation play in the energy strategy of METRO?

Schulze: In PV we are growing with the market, but in cooling technology we are even a frontrunner. Our 1st PV was installed in Düsseldorf store in 2007 with 220 kWp, in 2023 our rooftop PV at Marl logistics warehouse was the biggest in Germany with 18,500 kWp. In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, at a Classic Fine Foods depot, we have our first battery storage combined with a PV. Given we have further projects in the pipeline, we will refine the business cases to be as cost efficient as possible, thanks to batteries and BMS.

Regarding F-Gas Exit we started the programme in 2014 in order to replace the existing cooling equipment with natural refrigerants. It has been a steady expansion over the past decade and today nearly 60% of our facilities are operating with natural refrigerants as CO₂ or Propene. In many countries, we were even the pioneer of such technology.

And what´s next - how do you see the energy management at METRO going forward?

Schulze: Energy efficiency is first and foremost strict cost management. But in the long run, energy efficiency is also crucial to safeguard us against energy crisis or supply volatility due to various factors. Our slogan is: each kWh counts. We must maintain the readiness in our daily operations and measures to ensure that we are resilient enough to cope with changing circumstances and thus mitigate the potential impact.