With 487 solar panels on its roof, electric heating and battery back-up, a new store in Melbourne's southeast has become Australia's first fully electric Coles supermarket.
The retail giant and Origin Energy announced the milestone on Wednesday as part of their partnership to reduce emissions across the company's network.
The project is the latest in a series of green initiatives by supermarket chains, including Woolworths and Aldi, and comes as retailers including IKEA and Winnings invest in heavy-duty electric trucks.
Coles partnered with Origin Energy three years ago, and has since installed solar panels on 73 stores and distribution centres, as well as battery systems in five locations.
But the opportunity to create one fully electrified supermarket emerged 18 months ago, and a project is also planned for Orana Village in Clyde, Victoria, Coles energy head Jane Mansfield said.
''We have been testing and trialling various parts of this solution in other stores but we have brought it together for the first time in a new store,'' she told AAP.
''The intention is for us to take learnings from this store and see how it all performs together and then work out how we can scale those solutions across the network.''
The supermarket uses a 270-kilowatt rooftop solar system to help power its operations, and a 225-kilowatt-hour battery-storage system for back-up, supply during peak demand, and to provide power to its four electric car-charging stations.
To heat the store, electric heat pumps are used in combination with waste heat recovered from its refrigeration system, replacing the need for a gas-powered unit.
Along with efficient LED lighting, Ms Mansfield said the technology would make a noticeable difference.
''At this store, we expect to be able to reduce our electricity consumption from the grid by up to 25 per cent so that is a significant decrease in demand,'' she said.
''That's going to provide some relief to the network more generally.''
The supermarket chain had agreed to partner with Origin on further solar and battery installations for another three years, as part of its goal to reach net zero by 2050, she said.
Origin strategic customers general manager Liam McWhirter said the companies had also developed battery technology tailored to supermarket operations, allowing stores to draw on back-up power while supply energy to the grid.
''We're excited to extend our partnership with Coles to continue scaling the solutions that are working,'' he said.
All three of Australia's major supermarket chains have moved to 100 per cent renewable energy, and both Coles and Woolworths have invested in heavy-duty electric trucks for some freight and delivery services.
