Tesco has announced it will spend more than £100 million with UK green technology companies, in an attempt to boost the UK economy and safeguard thousands of jobs.

The news was announced at the official opening of the retailer’s first “zero-carbon” supermarket in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire.

Many of the suppliers that initially started working with Tesco in the UK are now providing advice on green technology in Tesco businesses across the world. Products include electric car charging points, CO2 refrigeration and combined heat and power plants that generate green electricity.

Tesco has been developing stores with lower carbon footprints since 2005, and Ramsey is its latest development in this field. The store was built with sustainable wood, LED lighting and a combined heat and power plant powered with renewable fuel. The store has no net carbon footprint and exports back any extra electricity generated to the national grid.

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy said: “The challenge of climate change can only be faced by collective action. We want to cut our own carbon footprint and help suppliers and customers do the same. We will be a zero carbon business by 2050 but only by working with our suppliers and others across the industry.

“I’m proud to be opening the world's first zero-carbon supermarket and I believe it’s no co-incidence that it has opened here in the UK where many of the innovations which make its construction and operation possible were designed and manufactured.”

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: "The opening of the world's first zero-carbon supermarket here in the UK is massively exciting and Tesco is to be congratulated on this groundbreaking move. Tesco's commitment to spend £100m with UK green technology companies will give a real boost to our low-carbon sectors. The government is determined to work with business to make the UK a global leader in the low-carbon economy. This demonstrates a step change in how to approach environmental challenges, integrating low-carbon building, resource efficiency and even the potential to put energy back into the grid. This zero-carbon store is inspirational and is an excellent example of how business can respond to consumer demand for low-carbon goods and services."

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