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 Star Refrigeration’s Ethos service and StarCare maintenance team helped Tesco achieve an average 10% energy saving across eight distribution centres between January 2022 and September 2023, with a return on investment in under 3 months.

Using insights generated by Ethos, an innovative data-led performance optimisation and smart monitoring system for industrial refrigeration and heating, Star Refrigeration helped the nation’s largest supermarket chain to make 4 GWh of energy savings and record an 835 tonne reduction in CO2 emissions.

Star Data Analytics Ethos, combines artificial intelligence with real-time data analysis specifically designed for refrigeration and heating equipment. This advanced non-intrusive, standalone system collects data through a versatile array of tools, analysing it against a dynamic digital twin to pinpoint inefficiencies with unparalleled precision.

For Tesco, this meant they received actionable insights, displayed through an interactive dashboard that not only forecasted energy consumption but also suggested tangible adjustments to enhance efficiency. Rectifying those shortfalls in performance was typically achieved with little to no further financial investment.

Rob Redfern, Tesco Group Energy Manager (Renewables & LZC)

“As the UK’s largest retailer, Tesco is committed to operating responsibly and sustainably. Reducing our energy consumption and CO2 emissions across our distribution network is just one way we’re taking action to transition to Net Zero.
The insights that Ethos and the Star Refrigeration team have delivered have been invaluable and allowed us to make targeted changes at each of the eight distribution sites in a strategic manner, often with no additional spend required. We’re very proud to say that we have reduced energy consumption by an average of 10% across those distribution sites in the short period between January 2022 and September 2023, achieving a return on investment in under three months.”

Anne Flanagan, SDA Business Development Manager, encapsulates the project’s success: “Tesco and Star Refrigeration, share a longstanding dedication to sustainability and energy efficiency. Together, we are propelling one of the UK’s largest chilled distribution networks towards a Net Zero future…Our combined efforts during the deployment of Ethos has resulted in remarkable and sustained energy savings, CO2e reductions and, as a direct result, cost savings.”

This case study demonstrates a viable path for other cold storage facilities to follow, with the potential to drive real change and set new standards in sustainable practices.