Aldi has announced plans to invest a further £17.5 million in solar panels at 230 more UK stores between 2027 and 2031. The retailer made the announcement on Thursday, October 28, building on its existing renewable energy programme.
The German supermarket chain, which operates more than 1,000 branches across the UK, says the investment will help it generate more of its own renewable electricity. According to Aldi, each installation is capable of providing up to 30% of a store’s annual energy requirements.
Expanding solar power across the UK
The new plans build on Aldi's existing £8.4 million programme to install solar panels at 100 additional stores during 2025 and 2026. Aldi says its total investment in solar power will amount to approximately £26 million by 2031.
Aldi UK says more than 500 Aldi stores are expected to have solar panels by the end of this year.
Commitment to sustainability
Jonathan Neale, Managing Director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, said: “We have plenty of space on our store roofs, so it makes sense to use it.
“We want solar power to become a normal part of how we run our stores, and this investment will help us bring it to even more locations over the coming years. By generating more of our own electricity, we can reduce our reliance on the grid and make our stores more sustainable.”
New store openings
Earlier this week, Aldi confirmed it is set to open several new stores in November, a move it says will create up to 210 jobs across the UK. The supermarket said it will open seven stores across England throughout November, including two new locations in London, with up to 30 roles available at each site.
The Aldi stores opening in November include Basildon, Essex on 12th November; Newport, Isle of Wight on 19th November; Matlock, Derbyshire on 19th November; Stepney Green, London on 19th November; Willesden, London on 26th November; Orrell, Wigan on 26th November; and Waterlooville, Hampshire on 26th November.
Aldi said the store launches form part of its £370 million investment in its UK estate this year, as it works towards a long-term ambition of operating 1,500 stores in the UK.
