The El Arco Group is committed to energy self-consumption with EDP. The chain specialized in fresh food products, with its origins in Sama de Langreo and 117 shops in Asturias, will have its first photovoltaic installation for self-consumption in the coming months, located on the roof of El Economato de El Fondón, in Sama.

The installation, which will be built and commissioned by EDP, will have a power of 53 kilowatt peak and will consist of 118 solar panels. It is the largest photovoltaic installation by a company in the Nalón basin.

It will occupy an area of 262 m2 and its annual production will be 61,300 kilowatt hours, equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of almost 20 homes. For the establishment, this will mean a saving in electricity consumption of 30% each year.

This energy saving is linked to the El Arco Group's commitment to protecting the environment and improving its environmental footprint. Self-consumption through this plant will prevent the annual emission of 19 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, which translates into a positive impact on air quality similar to that generated by 1,300 new trees or a journey of more than 400,000 kilometres in an electric vehicle.

The agreement between the two companies will be developed as a service contract, an advantageous option for companies, which contract the installation as a service, providing long-term visibility on their energy costs and not requiring large upfront investments.

In this project, EDP will supply and install all the elements and equipment of the plant, and will manage all the formalities, such as the legalisation of the plant. It will also be responsible for the annual maintenance of the installation, which includes tightening the screws of the structure and cleaning the photovoltaic modules, among other preventive interventions. The plant will also have a system to monitor the energy generated in real time, so that El Arco can optimise the operation of the installation.

This installation is a sign of the growth of solar energy as a real solution for companies and strengthens the relationship between the two companies, as Grupo El Arco, as a sign of its commitment to sustainability, also has charging points for electric vehicles in some of its supermarkets. In total, it has four 7.2 kW chargers in Asturias, two in Gijón and two in Mieres.

José Ramón Ceñera, CEO of Grupo El Arco, has highlighted "the company's commitment to protecting the environment, reducing CO2 emissions and improving the environmental footprint, a commitment to sustainability that we have been reflecting for some time now by improving the energy efficiency of the shops, reducing plastics in favour of compostable or reusable bags and, now, starting up this self-consumption photovoltaic installation".

With the installation and commissioning of this solar plant, EDP continues its commitment to efficiency projects for companies, offering technological innovations adapted to the needs of its customers. "Efficient energy use is key to increasing business competitiveness through energy savings and environmental protection", said Miguel Fonseca, Commercial Director of EDP.

According to a study carried out by EDP on solar potential, Asturias, with 1,726 hours of sunshine per year, has great opportunities to take advantage of solar energy generation. In Langreo there are more than 1,100 businesses, of which 65% - 721 - can install solar panels, as they have sufficient useful surface area for photovoltaic installations.

Self-consumption is one of the energy solutions with the greatest savings potential, both for companies and industries and for households.

This initiative is part of EDP's Strategic Plan for the period 2021-2025. The company foresees investments of 24,000 million euros, which will focus on three main lines of action: growth in renewable energies, flexibility and intelligence of electricity distribution networks, and a commitment to designing and offering the most innovative solutions to its customers. This ambitious plan contributes to EDP's goal of being 100% green by 2030.