Tesco rolls out AI refrigeration tech to cut energy costs by 10%
Tesco has implemented artificial intelligence (AI) technology to slash its energy costs by 10% and save over 385 tonnes of CO2e across its refrigerated distribution network.
The pilot programme saw supplier Star Refrigeration roll out its ‘Ethos AI’ data-led performance optimisation and smart monitoring service to three of the grocer’s sites initially, followed by an additional five, with Tesco having saved 4GWh on energy costs over a 21 month period.
Using Ethos, the grocery retailer was able to better address gaps in energy performance, improve reliability and predict issues in refrigeration equipment before they became a threat to operations.
The Ethos data also allowed Tesco’s maintenance team StarCare to find the optimal balance between operational efficiency and energy consumptions and make improvements including changing set points, purging air from condensers and making repairs.
Star Refrigeration said these measures resulted in “significant” improvements in energy optimisation.
As part of the changes, Tesco also decided to raise chill temperatures by 1°C across its estate, which it said, “challenged conventional practices” and helped the supermarket to “achieve substantial energy savings”.
From January 2022 to September 2023, Tesco achieved 4GW of energy savings and recorded an 835-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions as the sites which included Livingston, Doncaster, Hinckley, Widnes, Avonmouth, Daventry, Dagenham and Southampton.
Tesco group energy manager Rob Redfern said: “As the UK’s largest retailer, Tesco is committed to operating responsibly and sustainably. Reducing our energy consumption and CO2 emissions across our distribution network is just one way we’re taking action.
Grocery Gazette
Related news
Google and German Retail Association Launch AI Training Initiative
Google and the German Retail Association (HDE) have announced a…
Read more >Spanish Eroski stays on course thanks to AI and private labels
Despite higher costs, supermarket group Eroski ended the quarter with…
Read more >L’Oréal partners with NVIDIA to scale AI across beauty business
L’Oréal Groupe has partnered with NVIDIA to accelerate the use…
Read more >Related news
Temu has already targeted the European food market
The Chinese-rooted Temu is posing an increasingly serious threat to…
Read more >Irrigation water resources equivalent to one-third of Lake Balaton are available
Despite the extraordinary drought and lack of precipitation, we can…
Read more >Free irrigation water provided to farmers is a key element in the fight against drought
Free irrigation water provided to farmers is a key element…
Read more >