A third of ALDI stores will have solar panels

ALDI Hungary started installing solar systems at its stores in 2018: it first put a 50 kWp household solar power plant into operation at a Sopron and a Budaörs store. The supermarket chain expanded the number of its solar systems in 2021 and built solar energy systems with the same performance in 16 more stores. According to experience, the 18 small power plants so far provided the electricity consumption of the affected stores for about two months, the discount chain produced 1,300,000 kWh (1.3 GWh) of energy from sustainable sources on an annual basis.

ALDI is now further expanding the number of its stores equipped with household solar power plants and installing solar panels on the roofs of the stores in 46 more stores across the country. As before, these systems will also have a power of 50 kWp. According to the company’s calculations, each solar power plant will be able to cover at least two, but depending on the store, even three months of electricity from renewable sources. When choosing the locations for the installations, ALDI took into account the orientation and location of the given properties, as well as their structural features, and currently the company typically designates 2-4 stores per county. Apart from Budapest, 9 stores in Pest County will be equipped with solar systems. Installations began in September 2024 and are expected to be completed in spring 2025. The works do not affect the operation of the affected stores, all of them await customers with their usual opening hours. After commissioning, more than a third of ALDI’s network of 178 stores in Hungary will have solar power plants, which are expected to produce more than 4.5 GWh of electricity annually. About 7% of the annual energy demand of the ALDI store network will be provided by the company’s own solar systems.