Supermarket giant now powered using 100% renewables

Woolworths Group — from its supermarkets and distribution centres to BIG W stores and support offices — is now 100% powered by renewable electricity across Australia and New Zealand.

The milestone was reached at the end of 2025, achieving the goal first set by Woolworths Group in 2020, well ahead of the global RE100 renewable electricity target for 2030.

The supermarket giant now sources more than two-thirds of its electricity requirements through strategic partnerships and contracts across both Australia and New Zealand that leverage a mix of wind and solar, as well as its own expansive network of more than 320 onsite solar power systems, which generate enough electricity to power more than 17,000 homes.

The partnerships are complemented by contracts that support renewable electricity investment through the supply of large-scale generation certificate arrangements which match the Group’s consumption.

For its electricity sourced from third parties, the Group has prioritised investment in new renewable electricity projects rather than existing infrastructure to increase capacity in the national grid.

This milestone is projected to deliver a reduction of over 74% in operational emissions, moving Woolworths closer towards its target of an 80% reduction by 2030.

Simon Lowden, Woolworths Chief Officer of Group Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability, said: “Since December last year, every single supermarket, BIG W store, distribution centre, and other Woolworths Group facility across Australia and New Zealand has been running solely on renewable electricity.

“For example, across 14 of our distribution centres, we host some of the largest rooftop solar installations in the country, making us one of the largest commercial solar operators in Australian retail. This onsite generation meaningfully reduces grid demand during peak hours, giving us energy independence where it matters most and putting less pressure on the network that communities rely on.

“We have an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the country’s clean energy future, which is why we have intentionally backed renewable projects rather than drawing on existing supply.

“Our energy decisions have real weight in shifting the grid toward renewable sources. By contracting directly with renewable electricity generators and supporting new build assets, we believe that’s the way for a business like ours to add capacity.”

The milestone was achieved through collaboration across the Group, driven by Woolworths 360, which focuses on designing, developing and innovating to build a sustainable business of the future within Australia and New Zealand’s largest retailer.

Energy efficiency continues to be a priority for Woolworths Group, which is reducing consumption by implementing network-wide initiatives, including refrigeration upgrades, more efficient equipment, LED lighting and store infrastructure retrofits, and by optimising the design and construction of new distribution centres.

Complementing these initiatives is real-time monitoring through the Group’s Energy Management Centre, which pinpoints peaks, identifies patterns and provides targeted intervention when unexpected consumption spikes are identified.

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