GreenYellow has commissioned 18 self-consumption photovoltaic plants for Portuguese food retail group Jerónimo Martins, supporting the company’s efforts to reduce energy costs and emissions across its operations.
The solar installations have a combined capacity of 8 MWp and are deployed across the rooftops of Pingo Doce and Recheio Cash & Carry stores, along with a site operated by Portuguese fruit and vegetable producer Luis Vicente.
The plants are expected to generate approximately 11.6 GWh of renewable electricity annually, enabling Jerónimo Martins to meet part of its electricity requirements through on-site solar generation.
The project is expected to avoid more than 1,230 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 3,860 households.
Solar Generation to Reduce Energy Cost Exposure
The installations are designed around the energy consumption profiles of the individual sites. For retail facilities, electricity demand remains significant and relatively continuous due to requirements for refrigeration, lighting and air conditioning.
By generating electricity directly at the point of consumption, the project allows Jerónimo Martins to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in electricity prices and improve the predictability of its energy costs.
GreenYellow said the deployment also demonstrates the potential for solar self-consumption to support the electrification and decarbonization of energy-intensive commercial operations.
18-Site Deployment Across Portugal
The 18 installations are spread across different regions of Portugal, requiring the project to account for varying building configurations, rooftop conditions, grid-connection requirements, technical considerations, regulatory requirements and energy consumption profiles.
GreenYellow said it combined standardized processes with local expertise and site-specific solutions to deploy the solar systems across the multisite network.
Luis Almeida, Managing Director of GreenYellow Portugal, said generating renewable electricity directly at customer sites can help businesses control energy costs, reduce exposure to market volatility and advance their decarbonization objectives.
15-Year On-Site PPA Model
The project has been delivered under a 15-year on-site power purchase agreement (PPA), allowing Jerónimo Martins to use the solar electricity generated at its facilities without directly financing the installations.
Under the arrangement, GreenYellow is responsible for the assessment, investment, design, engineering, procurement, installation, operation and maintenance of the solar plants throughout the contract period.
The Energy-as-a-Service model enables Jerónimo Martins to deploy renewable energy infrastructure across multiple sites without an upfront investment in the installations.
GreenYellow said the model is particularly suited to companies operating multisite networks, where developing and managing individual energy projects can involve significant investment and coordination requirements.
GreenYellow Expands Multisite Renewable Energy Deployment
The Jerónimo Martins project adds to GreenYellow’s work with companies operating multisite and multigeographic networks across markets including Portugal, Poland, France and Spain.
The company said its approach combines international expertise with local capabilities to deploy renewable energy and energy-management solutions at scale.
Through the project, GreenYellow aims to support the increased generation of renewable electricity close to points of consumption while enabling companies to improve energy performance, electrify energy uses and develop greater flexibility across their operations.
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