The Facts
Customer – Tesco
Location – Flitwick Superstore
Duration – 3 weeks
Start Date – 11/11/2024
End Date – 29/11/2024
Objective – Full removal of legacy gas plant, transition to electric heating and hot water systems.
Constraints – Working in winter so no loss of heating and no disruption to hot water supply.
The Challenge
This commercial decarbonisation project at Tesco forms part of a wider strategy to remove natural gas supplies from stores, electrify HVAC systems and introduce renewable technology. The client’s facility was served by a traditional LTHW heating system powered by: 2x 160kw Gas boilers and 1x 37kw 215L Gas-fired hot water cylinder. However, over time, air conditioning units had been installed in key areas, significantly reducing demand on the central heating circuit. The LTHW circuit was no longer proportionate to the building’s needs — yet ongoing costs, servicing, and emissions remained.
The Solution
After assessing building performance and heating loads, we implemented a full electrification and decarbonisation strategy:
- Boiler Room Decommissioned
- Removal of the 2x gas boilers and 2x gas-fired DHW heaters.
- Isolation and removal of gas supply pipework.
- Permanent disconnection and removal of the main gas meter.
- New Low-Carbon Systems Installed
- OSO unvented electric cylinder installed for the hot water.
- Electric fan heaters installed in warehouse zones for fabric protection.
- Optimised for current and future demand.
- Fully integrated into our recently installed BEMS.
- Fabric and Fire-Safety Works
- Brickwork and roof fabric fully repaired.
- Fire-stopping installed to maintain compartmentation
The Result
- Over 210 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually from the boilers being removed.
- Over 25 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually from the gas fired cylinder being removed.
- Site is now fully electric and fossil-fuel free.
- Simplified system with reduced maintenance costs.
- Eliminated gas standing charges and servicing costs.
- Improved safety and compliance with compliant compartmentation.
- A future-ready asset aligned with net zero goals.
This commercial decarbonisation project resulted in the full removal of gas infrastructure, significantly reducing emissions and future energy costs.
By removing two oversized 160kW gas boilers that were operating for 10 hours a day, 365 days a year, we’ve helped eliminate over 213 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. That’s the carbon equivalent of more than half a million miles driven by an average petrol car. This project shows how impactful it can be to right-size heating systems and take legacy gas infrastructure offline — especially in buildings where the demand has evolved. We didn’t just replace old kit; we removed an unnecessary carbon source altogether.