Mercabarna develops sustainability projects to cut food waste and CO2 emissions

Mercabarna is working to become a hub for food arriving from all over the world to be redistributed to other international markets. The agrifood sector is responsible for a third of total greenhouse gas emissions and is extremely vulnerable to climate change. In 2021, Mercabarna’s food loss accounted for 0.36% of the overall volume traded, or 30,000 tons of waste a year. According to Pablo Vilanova Montagut, director of sustainability, innovation and strategy:

Mercabarna is working to lower emissions through a range of projects, including a two-phase solar energy programme.

A two-step process to improve sustainability

The first phase focuses on public buldings:

• Roof area: 97,000 m² + 25,000 m² (stage II)
• Power installation 5.4 MWp
• Energy production 6.8 GWh/year
• That would save 1,716 tons of CO₂ e. (mix 2022 CNMC)

The second phase would involve work on private buildings:

• Roof area: 234,000 m²
• Power installation 13 MWp
• Energy production 16 GWh/year
• The saving in this area would be of 4,144 tons of CO₂ e. (mix 2022 CNMC)

Once this project is fully implemented, it will supply 23 GWh/year, meet 25% of annual energy consumption and avoid 6,000 tons of CO₂ e. /year being emitted. These projects underline Mercabarna’s commitment to the environment.