January 6 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian supermarket operator Fantastico Group will invest around 3 million levs ($1.6 million/1.5 million euro) this year to install two rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays for own use, bringing their total to 14, the company told SeeNews.
The investment is part of over 5 million levs earmarked to enhance energy efficiency over the next 12 months, the company told SeeNews in an emailed statement on Thursday.
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The group's 12 existing rooftop solar arrays, with combined nameplate capacity of 1,600 kWp, are expected to generate 1,800 MWh of green power in 2023. This is close to 10% of the overall consumption needs of the supermarkets where the systems are installed.
With all 14 installations operational, Fantastico said it is looking to produce around 4,200 MWh of electricity in 2024.
The largest photovoltaic system is planned at the group's logistics base in Elin Pelin, near Sofia, where expansion work is underway. The installation will have a capacity of about 2,000 kWp and will produce some 2,200 MWh annually.
The supermarket retailer is also planning a 190 kWp solar array on the rooftop of a new supermarket, set to be built in a residential area in the northeast of Sofia. This system will generate some 200 MWh per year.
In addition to PV systems, the group said it will also invest in high-end refrigeration equipment to reduce energy consumption. It is working on installing exhaust heat recovery systems while automating the tracking of overall resource consumption.
Fantastico Group operates 45 supermarkets, most of which are located in Sofia, with several in towns to the capital.
(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)