France: Carrefour and GreenYellow launch solar project for 350 car parks

Leading supermarket chain Carrefour has announced a strategic partnership with photovoltaic specialist GreenYellow to equip 350 of its supermarket car parks with solar panels. This initiative is part of Carrefour’s proactive approach to anticipating the legal obligations imposed by the APER law, which requires the installation of photovoltaic shading systems in car parks over 1,500 m² by 2028.
The aim of this collaboration is an ambitious goal: to produce around 450 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, equivalent to the consumption of a city of 200,000 inhabitants. With this project, Carrefour hopes to meet 20% of its stores’ electricity needs, while also selling the surplus production that is not stored.

Commitment to using 100% renewable sources

This initiative is part of Carrefour’s strategy to achieve electricity consumption exclusively from renewable sources by 2030. GreenYellow will fully finance these installations, allowing Carrefour to benefit from very attractive rates for this green energy.
The implementation of this project poses a major challenge in terms of logistics and production. Indeed, the three retail organisations have previously criticised the timetable imposed by the APER law, arguing that French production capacity will be insufficient to meet demand by 2028.

GreenYellow: Strategic Partner

GreenYellow, founded in 2007 by Casino Group, is now a major player in the renewable energy sector. Casino recently sold its entire stake in GreenYellow for €46 million due to financial difficulties. This change of ownership has not prevented GreenYellow from continuing to develop large-scale projects, such as the one in partnership with Carrefour.
The installation of solar shading will not only reduce Carrefour’s carbon footprint, but will also demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of renewable energy solutions in the retail sector.

Towards an accelerated energy transformation

Carrefour is not only anticipating future regulations, but is also showing the way for other players in the sector. By aiming to use 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, the company is underlining its commitment to the environment and the energy transition.
This initiative could inspire other retail chains to adopt similar solutions, contributing to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions across the sector.
The partnership between Carrefour and GreenYellow represents a significant step towards greater use of renewable energy. This ambitious and innovative project marks an important step in the energy transformation of the French retail sector and could serve as a model for other companies wishing to follow suit.