Efficiently operating solar panels in the Pécs INTERSPAR hypermarket
The solar panel system installed at the INTERSPAR hypermarket in Pécs, with an investment of around 80 million HUF, saves a month’s worth of energy annually.
“For SPAR, environmental sustainability is extremely important, and as a major energy consumer, our priority is to achieve the most efficient use of energy possible. The largest share, more than 60 percent, is the electricity consumption of our stores, logistics centres, food production plants and offices. With the investments in improving energy-efficiency, in 2023, the company’s total energy consumption was cut by more than 5.5% compared to the year before. And last year, we have already installed solar systems in our stores in Szeged, Dorog, Pécs and Göd,” explained Márk Maczelka, head of communications at SPAR Hungary.
SPAR Hungary’s annual renewable electricity production in 2023 was 779 GJ (216 419 kWh) which came from the production of solar systems installed in the stores. This amount is roughly equivalent to the total electricity consumption of 70 average residential houses. In the case of each investment, the company assesses the possibility of effectively operating a solar panel system to help serve the electricity needs of the unit.
As part of a pilot project with a 80 million HUF investment in the INTERSPAR hypermarket in Pécs, a solar power system and battery storage with smart control to reduce the simultaneous power consumption from the grid has been installed. This solution allows the stored electricity to be used when peak consumption is detected. There are several advantages to using this system: on the one hand, the building only needs less power supply from the grid, and on the other hand, the monthly charges for the generated power are also saved. Experience over the last almost two years has shown that the peak period is in July, with the lowest production of the system detected in January. A comparison of actual production and consumption data shows that the hypermarket saves 1 month of its 12 monthly energy consumption with the system installed.
