Lighting We continue to focus on optimizing energy consumption for lighting in 2023 as well, knowing the significant impact it has on the total energy consumption in our stores. That is why we are committed to the relentless search for new approaches to make this field more efficient. We have also implemented innovative procedures and technologies, including sensor-based systems, to shorten the periods when lighting installations are active, thus helping to decrease the electricity consumption generated by lighting. The transition to all-LED lighting, which we have been doing since 2019, has been key in reducing electricity consumption per square meter of sales space in recent years. However, we are continuously searching for innovative methods to further reduce energy consumption. In this regard, in 2022, we equipped our new stores with advanced lighting technology, which includes light control and energy management solutions, allowing us to have up to 35% lower energy consumption compared to standard LED systems. We plan to expand this technology to other stores, constantly exploring new ways to improve the energy efficiency of lighting. Refrigeration Refrigeration continues to be the main energy consumer at our sites. Thus, we continued to implement measures to optimize consumption in this category, the main ones being the use of glass on dairy shelves and freezer doors, the optimization of glass doors, the modernization of refrigeration system technology, the replacement of refrigeration systems and energyefficient display cases, the optimization of operating procedures. With the increase in refrigeration needs, we continue to make every effort to ensure that we do not increase proportionally to the related energy consumption. This year we continued the initiatives started in previous years, the main ones remaining the equipping of refrigerated windows with doors and the modernization of refrigeration systems at store level. Thus, as early as the end of 2022, 100% of our fresh produce showcases had doors fitted to reduce associated energy consumption. The use of refrigerants is another sector where we are taking steps to reduce negative environmental and climate impacts. As refrigerants have a high global warming potential, we use leak control technologies to ensure a rapid response in the event of a leak. At the same time, the development of new measures to reduce consumption depends on the detailed analysis of already existing consumption patterns. For this reason, we have equipped all our stores with remote monitoring systems for refrigeration installations. In this way, we will be able to analyze current patterns and create correlations with other factors that influence increases in consumption. We are constantly striving to identify innovative ways to make our energy consumption more efficient. Thus, we analyze the best practices in the field and rely on practical studies to investigate the feasibility of implementing a new project on our sites. Among the internationally appreciated technical solutions, we researched the feasibility of implementing a microgrid energy storage system. Thus, in 2023 we launched this technology with the opening of the PENNY Chiajna 3 store, where we used a battery with a storage capacity of 189 kWh, which aims to support the operation of the entire store, limiting the necessary consumption from the centralized electricity grid to only 40 kW. At the same time, to optimize consumption, we conducted a study on the distribution of temperatures and humidity variation inside PENNY stores, using the Ștefăneștii de Jos store as a test area. Based on this study, it was determined that the thermal stratification of our stores allows us to achieve an optimal ambient temperature by setting the air conditioning systems two degrees Celsius above the target temperature. Thus, there is a reduction in energy consumption attributed to the air-conditioning activity through this update of the operational procedures. Since 2017, we have been using a customized cloud platform at the Group level to collect, manage and analyze data related to energy efficiency. This platform allows us to have comparable data at the level of PENNY subsidiaries. In 2023, we continued to set up and install metering systems at newly opened stores, which transmit data related to energy consumption to this cloud platform. Thus, all our stores are served by this system for managing energy consumption. In addition, in 2023 we included the entire refrigeration infrastructure in the remote monitoring network, compared to the 60% coverage recorded in the previous year. At the same time, to ensure the efficiency of this system, we carry out punctual tests for the energy consumption of certain stores, verifying the consistency and correct transmission of data to the cloud platform. SUSTAINABILITY REPORT PENNY ROMANIA 2023 150/256 MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTORS SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY AND GOVERNANCE ABOUT US AND OUR VALUE CHAIN ABOUT THE REPORT THE FUTURE IS MADE TODAY SUSTAINABILITY MILESTONES CONTENTS
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