Tesco: Large-Scale Energy Reduction Across UK Estate

- 25,418 MWh saved annually
- 13,976 tonnes carbon saved per year
- 60% energy consumption reduction
- £2.41m annual savings (approx)
- 2.60-year payback period
- Over 1,250 systems installed across UK estate

Tesco, one of the UK's leading retailers, set high targets for energy consumption reduction as energy prices continued rising and pressure mounted for large businesses to reduce and report on carbon emissions. With a large estate covering new builds to historic conversions, Tesco needed innovative ways to reduce energy in every facet of their stores. Driven by a strong sustainability policy addressing both carbon and energy reduction, they began installing Cheetah across their estate.

The Challenge

Tesco operates in-store bakeries and customer and staff restaurants across their extensive UK estate. Kitchen ventilation systems ran constantly regardless of cooking activity, consuming significant energy across hundreds of locations. With corporate pressure to reduce carbon and energy use, Tesco needed a solution that delivered measurable savings at scale while maintaining operational performance across diverse store formats.

The Solution

Cheetah was installed in in-store bakeries and restaurants across the estate. The system uses intelligent controls and sensors to detect cooking activity, then controls extract and supply fans to vary speeds and reduce energy consumption accordingly. Cheetah is included on the Energy Technology List for Enhanced Capital Allowances - a tax relief that permits businesses to deduct 100% of capital expenditure against taxable profits, improving the financial case.

The Results

To date, Quintex has installed over 1,250 systems across the UK estate. Estate-wide annual savings: 25,418 MWh, 13,976 tonnes of carbon, and approximately £2.41m in costs. Average stores experience savings of 116 kWh per day with a 2.6-year payback period. With energy prices rising, paybacks continue to become more attractive. Cheetah has reduced the estate's carbon footprint by over 70,600 tonnes, a significant contribution to corporate targets.

Jeremy Waters, Tesco's Energy Manager: "The Cheetah system has proven to be one of the most successful energy saving ideas we have found over the recent years. The management team and the operational staff have been delighted with the results."

Ongoing Partnership

Tesco continues rolling out Cheetah across their whole estate and announcing energy savings and carbon reductions. With regular monitoring across so many installations, savings are calculated and reported consistently. The project demonstrates how demand-controlled ventilation delivers measurable results at scale across retail operations - proving that in energy reduction, every little helps.