Cootamundra has become the latest Woolworths in New South Wales to install solar panels to help reduce the store's environmental footprint and cut energy costs.
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The 99.96kW solar arrays on the roof were installed in August/September and are now fully integrated into the supermarket's energy supply.
They are made up of 357 high efficiency solar panels spanning around 600 square metres.
The Cootamundra store is one of more than 100 Woolworths sites now drawing from solar power across Australia.
The solar system has the capacity to generate more than 140 megawatt hours each year - the equivalent to more than 22 Australian households' annual energy consumption.
Through a combination of energy efficient LED lighting and solar panels, Cootamundra will offset a total of approximately 15 percent of its energy consumption.
Woolworths Cootamundra Store Manager Judy Drevermann said: "From store lighting and air-conditioning to food refrigeration and preparation, there is no doubt supermarkets are energy intensive to run.
"In recent years we've been working to run our stores more sustainably, and energy use is a big part of the effort.
"We're investing in more efficient refrigeration and lighting systems, and harnessing the power of renewables across the network too.
"At Woolworths Cootamundra, we're pleased to be doing our bit for the planet with this solar installation.
"It will not only reduce the store's environmental footprint, but also help keep costs down so we can continue offering the best possible prices to our customers."
A third of Woolworths supermarkets now have hybrid or HCF-free refrigeration systems.
More than 800 supermarkets have energy efficient LED lighting, which reduces energy consumption in a store by around 10-15 percent.
These upgrades to lighting in supermarkets alone have offset the equivalent power consumption of 50 stores.
Woolworths supermarkets generated more than 9,600 megawatt hours through solar panels in the 2018-19 financial year.
In total, Woolworths' sustainability investments have helped deliver an 18 percent reduction in carbon emissions on 2015 levels.
Ms Dreverman was with the Young Woolworths supermarket last year when the parking area there was covered in innovating sun shelters consisting largely of solar panels which provide energy as well as shade.
The array was opened by the member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, when he was acting prime minister.
Ms Dreverman has been managing the Cootamundra Woolworths store since January.
