Solar energy is increasingly important in retail – more SPAR stores are powered by solar panels

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 10. 06. 12:01

🎧 Hallgasd a cikket: Nyelv: Sebesség: 1.05×

The role of renewable energy sources in the retail sector is rapidly growing: large chains are trying to reduce their carbon footprint with energy efficiency investments and locally produced green electricity. In line with the growing demand for renewable energy sources, SPAR Hungary is further expanding its solar panel systems, providing a modern, environmentally friendly energy source for its stores in Nyíregyháza and Székesfehérvár. In our country, SPAR was among the first to implement solar panel developments in the sector and the program is constantly expanding.

The latest installations were implemented in the first half of 2025, in the Tiszavasvári út supermarket in Nyíregyháza, and in the Palotai út store in Székesfehérvár. A 50 kW system began operation at both locations, which can produce tens of thousands of kilowatt hours of energy per year. Thanks to this, at least 15% of the electricity consumption of the affected stores is replaced by renewable energy.

“It is extremely important for SPAR to make our energy use more efficient and rely on renewable sources as much as possible. In 2024, SPAR Hungary used a total of 912 GJ, or 253,256 kWh of renewable electricity, which came entirely from our solar panel systems installed on the roofs of our own stores. With every new investment, we strive to ensure that the solar panels serve the electricity needs of the given store as efficiently as possible, thus supporting our energy-conscious operation”

– said Márk Maczelka, Head of Communications at SPAR Hungary.

SPAR launched its solar panel program in Szeged in 2020, and then Installations were carried out in Pécs and Dorog in 2022, in Göd in 2023, and in Dunaföldvár and the INTERSPAR hypermarket in Pécs in 2024. The largest-scale development so far took place in INTERSPAR in Pécs: the system there, combined with energy storage, can save the store one month’s energy consumption. As a result of the projects so far, the company’s annual renewable energy production exceeded 253 thousand kilowatt hours in 2024, which corresponds to the annual consumption of 80 average family homes.

With the systems now handed over in Nyíregyháza and Székesfehérvár, SPAR further strengthens its ambition that the stores of the future are not only modern commercial spaces, but also environmentally responsible units that produce their own energy. The company examines the possibility of using solar solutions in all new investments and renovations, and further installations are expected in the coming years.