Woolworths cuts costs and carbon with energy-tracking tech

By collaborating with Australian energy-tracing company Enosi and a Queensland energy provider, Woolworths is optimising its renewable energy usage, thus reducing costs and emissions.

The retailer has been using Enosi’s Virtual Net Metering technology and Powertracer platform to synchronise its clean electricity usage across a broad network of stores.

This means that Woolworths can now match excess solar from its Townsville distribution centre, in 30-minute intervals, with the daytime demand load across seven stores in Townsville and surrounding suburbs, including two Big W stores.

“Our mission is to unlock clean energy for all, ensuring that every unit of electricity generated is put to its most effective use within the Woolworths portfolio,” said Steve Hoy, CEO of Enosi.

“This partnership with Woolworths demonstrates the power of Virtual Net Metering in making distributed renewable electricity a smarter, lower-cost and more sustainable solution for businesses.”

Enosi CEO Steve Hoy.

Enosi said the initial phase had successfully matched 100% of the solar export (more than 400 MWh of energy to date) to the participating stores, delivering direct cost benefits and enabling attributed savings of an estimated 250 tonnes of carbon. The Powertracer platform enables the exchange of excess solar between Woolworths sites, saving costs through the energy provider’s billing system and providing detailed energy attribution insights through its digital portal.

“Our operations are energy intensive,” said Michael Shelley, Woolworths Group General Manager, Green Energy Transition. “We’re pleased with the results and how this technology supports our green electricity ambition. Optimising ongoing electricity costs and emissions reductions is significant.”

Shelley said that Woolworths was now exploring how to apply this model across other areas of its national network.

Top image credit: iStock.com/mollypix