[This is a contributed article from Hark Systems’ CEO Jordan Appleson, who discusses the benefits, challenges and transformative potential of real-time energy management in the supermarket sector]
In a sector characterised by intense competition and slim margins, supermarkets must optimise efficiency across every part of the business, from the supply chain through to onsite energy use.
UK supermarkets currently account for a signficant part of the UK’s electricity consumption. However, with the retail sector undergoing rapid digitisation and electrification, this demand is expected to surge in the coming years, partly due to the growing demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging, both for commercial fleets and customer vehicles. Balancing these demands with ambitious carbon reduction goalspresents a significant challenge.
Evolving energy needs
To meet increasing energy demands, many supermarkets are turning to solar PV for clean, low-cost power. Their large, flat roofs are ideal for solar arrays, helping cut grid reliance and electricity costs during peak shopping hours. Adding battery storage allows excess energy to be used after sunset, boosting self-consumption and ensuring essential appliances stay powered.
Advancements in solar technology, like module-level power electronics, are increasing energy yields, lowering costs, and improving monitoring. But production alone isn’t enough – smart energy management is key to fully unlock its value. By integrating real-time data from solar systems and energy-intensive assets like freezers, lighting, and EV chargers, retailers gain insights to streamline operations, reduce waste, and unlock further savings.
Energy management on the edge
Implementing a cross-category energy management strategy in retail is complex. It requires a “single pane of glass” – a unified platform to monitor and control energy production and consumption across their entire estate in real time. This can require installing thousands of sensors across equipment such as bakery ovens, freezer cabinets, lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), EV chargers, and more, supported by edge computing to process millions of data points in real-time.
Even at a single store, installing this infrastructure can be a significant undertaking. Scaling it across an entire network of stores, warehouses, and logistics centres, adds further complexity. However, the benefits of such an approach can be both rapid and transformative.
A success story: Sainsbury’s
My company Hark Systems has helped several UK supermarkets transform their energy management across entire store environments. Using advanced data analytics and its proprietary Hark Connect platform, Hark enables businesses to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and improve sustainability.
Hark partnered with Sainsbury’s to improve visibility and control of energy consumption, supporting the retailer’s goal to reach net zero emissions by 2040. After identifying energy-intensive assets, the team conducted an on-site survey to connect them to the Hark Connect platform. A single-store proof of concept was then deployed, monitoring multiple asset groups, including bakery ovens, refrigeration units, HVAC systems, and lighting.
This initial energy monitoring highlighted errors in energy consumption processes that were the leading causes of high usage, including a malfunctioning asset, responsible for excessive energy draw. This enabled Sainsbury’s to take corrective action and prevent further losses.
Following the successful trial, Sainsbury’s scaled the Hark platform to over 600 stores. Today, the retailer receives over 368 million energy readings daily across 40 asset groups. This centralised platform 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.
The impact is tangible: Sainsbury’s has achieved a 4.5% reduction in lighting costs alone. For large retailers, this can translate into millions of pounds.
Switching on new revenue streams
The success seen by Sainsbury’s, and other leading UK supermarkets, highlights the measurable value of real-time energy management. While ROI varies by use case, it’s possible for retailers to see a return of £3 to £4 for every £1 invested in advanced monitoring solutions within just a year.
This business case grows stronger as the retail electricity market shifts towards flexible energy pricing. Real-time systems help retailers respond to changing tariffs, avoid penalties, and optimise energy use through time-of-use strategies. For instance, excess solar energy can be used to pre-cool freezers using excess solar electricity during the day, allowing them to be powered down during peak grid pricing hours – cutting costs without compromising food safety. Using excess solar energy like this also helps to avoid violating grid export limits, which can result in hefty fines.
Retailers can further benefit from energy arbitrage – storing solar or low-cost grid energy and selling it back when prices rise. By combining market data with on-site energy insights, real-time platforms enable intelligent trading, automatically buying and selling energy when trading conditions are favourable, turning energy management into a revenue opportunity.
Though still emerging, this shift encourages businesses to rethink their energy strategies. We may soon see more retailers oversize solar PV systems to take full advantage of energy trading opportunities.
Sustainable and efficient retail operations?
Real-time energy visibility in supermarkets is more than a tech upgrade – it’s a strategic shift toward more sustainable, efficient operations. As energy demands rise and market dynamics shift, real-time monitoring will become essential. By combining solar technology with advanced analytics, retailers can optimise energy usage and even engage in energy arbitrage, meeting current needs, while preparing for a more profitable, sustainable future. While implementation has its challenges, the right systems can help supermarkets lead on sustainability and navigate the complexities of a dynamic energy market.
[image credit: Sainsbury’s]
