BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
POWERING SUSTAINABLE SUPERMARKETS I
ndustry data shows that UK supermarkets currently account for approximately 3% of the
country’s total electricity consumption. However, with the retail sector undergoing rapid digitisation and electrification, this demand is expected to surge in the coming years. A key challenge facing supermarkets will be meeting the growing demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging, both for commercial fleets and customer vehicles – a significant and costly energy load which will further escalate power requirements. Faced with intense competition and slim margins,
it is therefore critical that the supermarket industry optimises efficiency across every part of the business, from the supply chain through to onsite energy use. However, in addition to facing rising energy
use and therefore costs, energy and facilities managers also need to balance these increases with ambitious carbon reduction goals.
A DATA-DRIVEN VIEW Many supermarket operators are adopting renewable energy solutions to power their facilities with clean, low-cost energy, with solar PV emerging as a leading choice. Supermarkets, with their expansive, unobstructed flat roofs, provide the perfect canvas for large-scale solar arrays. By harnessing solar energy during peak shopping hours, retailers can significantly reduce their reliance on grid energy, leading to lower electricity bills. Additionally, by integrating a battery storage system, excess solar energy can be stored for use during off-peak hours or after sunset – improving self-consumption and keeping essential appliances powered by clean, low-cost energy around the clock. Advancements in solar technology, especially
solar inverters using module-level power electronics (MLPE), are already unlocking powerful new opportunities for retailers to optimise solar energy production and usage. These innovations are driving higher energy yields, enabling greater cost savings, and reducing operations and maintenance (O&M) expenses through advanced monitoring capabilities. But maximising solar energy production is only part of the picture. To fully unlock its value, retailers must also manage how and when that energy is used, and this is where smart energy management comes into play. By combining real- time data from onsite solar PV systems and energy-consuming assets such as freezers, lighting and EV chargers, retailers can gain a complete, data-driven view of their energy consumption. These insights can then be turned into strategic actions that streamline operations, reduce waste, and unlock further cost savings.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT ON THE EDGE In an industry such as retail, achieving the cross-category approach to energy management proposed here is not without challenges. What is required is a unified platform through which retailers can monitor and control energy production and consumption across their entire
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As the retail landscape evolves, the drive for sustainability and efficiency has never been more pressing. Hark Systems
has worked with leading UK retailers including Sainsbury’s and Asda to analyse and optimise their energy use, buildings and industrial assets. Here, Jordan Appleson, CEO, discusses the benefits, challenges and transformative potential of real-time energy management in the supermarket sector
By combining real-time data from onsite solar PV systems and energy-consuming assets such as freezers, lighting and EV chargers, retailers can gain a complete, data-driven view of their energy consumption
estate in real time. This can require installing thousands of sensors across diverse assets such as bakery ovens, freezer cabinets, lighting, HVAC, EV charging points, and more. To support such an extensive hardware setup, an edge-based computing system must also be deployed to process millions of sensor readings in real-time, enabling visualisation, exploration and analysis of the data. Installing this infrastructure can be a significant undertaking even for a single store. When scaled across an entire network of stores, warehouses and logistics centres, the scope becomes even more substantial. However, the benefits of such an approach can be both rapid and transformative.
A SUCCESS STORY: SAINSBURY’S In 2017, Hark Systems partnered with Sainsbury’s to improve visibility and control of energy consumption across key asset groups, supporting the retailer’s goal to reach net zero emissions by 2040. Working closely with Sainsbury’s, the Hark team identified energy-intensive assets and conducted an on-site survey to connect them to the Hark Connect platform. A proof of concept was then deployed in a single store, monitoring multiple asset groups, including bakery ovens, refrigeration units, HVAC systems, and lighting. The initial energy monitoring highlighted errors in energy consumption processes that
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 2025
were the leading causes of high usage. For example, a malfunctioning asset was identified as being responsible for excessive energy draw, enabling Sainsbury’s to take corrective action and prevent further losses. Following the success of the initial trial,
Sainsbury’s scaled the Hark platform to more than 600 stores. Today, the retailer receives over 368 million energy readings daily across 40 different asset groups. This centralised system enables Sainsbury’s HQ to monitor all connected stores and devices, identify inefficiencies, remotely control energy usage, and anticipate potential asset failures before they occur. In terms of bottom-line impact, Sainsbury’s
has reported a 4.5% reduction in lighting costs alone. For large retailers, a 4.5% annual saving can translate into millions of pounds.
NEW REVENUE STREAMS The impressive results achieved by Sainsbury’s – and the many other leading UK supermarkets Hark Systems works with – highlight the real, measurable benefits of investing in real-time energy management. While the return on investment varies by use case, it’s possible for retailers to see a return of £3 to £4 for every £1 spent on advanced monitoring solutions within just a year, making the financial case clear cut. The business case for real-time energy
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