Tesco is aiming to reduce its energy costs by using advanced energy management software systems across a number of its stores.

It has signed a three-year contract with Elster EnergyICT, the software division of energy metering giant Elster Group, to use its Enacto software platform at the retail giant’’s estate.

The software measures how much energy is being used by deep freezers and lighting circuits, which means managers at Tesco stores will be able to tell if a chiller, for example, is using more energy than it should.

Elster EnergyICT told ELN the implementation of the software at other companies has led to energy reductions of up to 30%.

Tesco has set a target of cutting carbon emissions by 50% by 2020 and becoming a zero-carbon business by 2050.

James Pitcher, Head of Energy & Environment at Tesco said: “The energy management solutions will play an essential role in helping us to achieve these goals by enabling our employees to visualise, manage and identify opportunities for energy saving across our stores and quantify any savings made.”