SUPER-HEERO
Uplifting energy efficiency investment in supermarkets
| Business | Period | Project Coordinator | Funding Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | June 2020 - November 2022 | R2M Solutions SRL | H2020 |
Challenge
Energy efficiency investments are key from an environmental point of view, but also convenient in terms of expected return and payback times. For instance, energy charges account for between 10% and 15% of the total operating costs of a small or medium supermarket, making energy efficiency a great source for cost reduction. However, it is still difficult to attract private finance that can accelerate the energy transition process on a large scale in the retail sector.
For this reason, SUPER-HEERO has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement n. 894404 to provide a replicable and innovative financial scheme for energy efficiency investment in small and medium supermarkets.
SUPER-HEERO relies on 3 main instruments:
- Energy Performance Contracting (EPC),
- Performance-based schemes (e.g. technology leasing and pay-per-use agreements) for technology providers
- community-based crowdfunding and cooperative initiatives.
In particular, the novelty of this project relies in the innovative concept that leverages customer loyalty programmes, providing a new way for supermarket operators and their shoppers to work together towards energy efficiency: “Let’s shop for energy efficiency!”
Approach
As a project partner of SUPER-HEERO, RINA is mainly in charge of the energy efficiency renovation actions for supermarkets, starting from our demonstrators in Italy and Spain.
We will define the most relevant and easy replicable energy efficiency measures to be promoted via SUPER-HEERO financing scheme, considering the type of EU commercial centre/
supermarket buildings, their typical installed equipment/energy demand/renovation needs.
Such assessment will be relevant not only to facilitate promotion of intervention, but also to engage in SUPER-HEERO renovation campaign
technology providers in order to:
- reduce upfront cost,
- facilitate replication,
- speed up interventions thanks to tailored/standardized solutions
Finally, renovation that will start during the project phase will be properly monitored from energetic and techno-economic point of view.
Conclusion
In conclusion, SUPER-HEERO will imply benefits for:
- Supermarkets: the project will secure financial support to uptake energy efficiency strategies, reduce technical responsibilities and risks, reduce energy consumption and operational costs and align with global sustainability targets
- ESCOs: the project will increase customer base through the supermarket loyalty program, establish long term commercial relationship through savings sharing schemes and foster high replicability potential in the new market of small/medium supermarkets
- technology providers: main advantages will be Implementation of innovative business models (e.g. technology leasing and pay-per-use agreements), long term energy demand security and high exposure in TP catalogue for replication
- customers: main benefits will be multi-company loyalty program, card payback (e.g. 2% of expenditure), reward strategies (gamification), energy-bill rebates, discounts in other green goods and services and opportunity to be engaged in sustainable and green initiatives
