Rimi invests 1.6 million and creates one of the largest solar energy parks in the Baltics

One of the largest solar panel parks in the Baltics has been created on Rimi Latvia's logistics centre at A. Deglava Street 161 in Riga, Latvia, continuing the multi-million investment and modernization projects that began three years ago.

Over the past three years, Rimi's logistics centre has implemented environmentally friendly, sustainable, and efficient solutions. These initiatives include the establishment of a centralized kitchen, an automated goods picking system, and the addition of automated guided vehicles, known as robots Tom and Jerry.

Nearly 1.6 million euros have been invested in the solar panel project, generating a renewable energy capacity of two megawatts. Given the energy demands of not only the logistics center and its adjacent office but also 140 stores across Latvia, the solar energy park on the Rimi logistics centre roof produced approximately 3% of the total electricity consumed by the Rimi Latvia network in July of this year.

"The development of the solar energy park aligns with Rimi's broader goal of greener management and environmental impact reduction. Despite a 38% increase in the total space area of the Rimi Latvia network and advancements in automation over the past 16 years, we have achieved the lowest electricity consumption since 2008, with a 6% decrease", explains Rimi Latvia Real Estate and Development Director Māris Gailīts.

Rimi continues its journey toward achieving Net Zero by 2050, becoming the first retailer in the Baltics and Nordic countries to join the Science Based Targets initiative in September 2024, along with its mother company ICA Gruppen in Sweden. Moreover, in 2025, all Rimi private label packaging will be made from recyclable or reusable materials. Additionally, Rimi aims to reduce food waste by 50% compared to 2016 levels within the next year.