Latest Policy

The revised EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD EU/2024/1275) took effect in May 2024, requiring all member states to enact corresponding national laws by 29 May 2026. The regulation enforces strict MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards) for supermarkets, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants and other commercial premises by 2030, with key mandatory rules as follows:

1.All stores ranking in the bottom 16% for energy efficiency must complete full energy-saving retrofits before 2030;

2.A unified standardised energy rating system will be rolled out for all EU commercial buildings;

3.Real-time store energy data must be permanently archived and available for official inspection;

4.All large chain groups are required to disclose carbon emissions under the CSRD regulation.

Multinational chains that skip standardised retrofits and unified group energy monitoring will face heavy fines, restricted business hours or revoked operating licences. They will also fail mandatory ESG audits and lose access to green supply chain partnerships, EU low-carbon subsidies and preferential financing. Coupled with surging European power prices, F-Gas refrigerant phase-down rules and corporate carbon neutrality targets, energy retrofits are no longer optional but an industry-wide necessity. Retail and fast-food brands across Europe are accelerating store efficiency upgrades to comply with regulations and cut carbon & operational costs.

Challenges Faced by Chain Supermarkets

When carrying out energy-saving renovations, chain retail operators generally encounter three major pain points:

1.Fragmented energy data with no unified group oversight: Each store independently logs power use for cold storage, lighting and HVAC systems. Headquarters cannot compare cross-branch energy performance or spot abnormal power waste instantly, and scattered data cannot support EU energy reports and carbon audits.

2. Separate hardware & software complicate large-scale retrofits: Meters, gateways and platforms sourced from different suppliers feature incompatible protocols, creating complex wiring and cumbersome data integration. Custom development for mixed store formats extends construction timelines and raises labour costs.

3.Wide store coverage leads to excessive on-site maintenance costs: Cross-city and cross-border outlets demand frequent technician visits for equipment commissioning and troubleshooting. Travel and repeated manual inspections drive up labour expenses, while unattended equipment waste cannot be addressed promptly.

What We Can Offer You

To tackle the above challenges, Acrel provides a one-stop integrated energy management solution to help enterprises meet energy-saving retrofit compliance requirements. The complete system consists of smart energy meters, edge gateways and a group energy cloud platform. Through a unified visual dashboard, headquarters can remotely monitor energy consumption across all multi-format store locations.

1.Front-end intelligent energy meters All meters hold CE and MID certifications for the European market, available in DIN rail and panel-mounted types. They support Ethernet, 4G, Wi-Fi and LoRa communications to fit all store environments.

2.IoT edge communication gateways Multi-protocol gateways collect energy data from all meters, perform local caching and transmit encrypted data stably to the group cloud.

3.Group Centralised Energy Cloud Platform (Core Component) Exclusive visual remote management dashboard for headquarters with core functions:

· Real-time energy data sync for domestic and cross-border branches

· Automated energy analysis, store efficiency ranking and abnormal consumption alert push

· One-click generation of standardised energy reports

· Centralised equipment asset management and full archive of store retrofit records

All three modules are independently developed by Acrel with native protocol compatibility. No third-party integration is needed during construction, eliminating compatibility failures and project delays.

Why Choose Us

1.Fully integrated hardware & software for fast on-site deployment:

Unlike fragmented multi-vendor packages, Acrel provides matching meters, gateways and platforms as a complete set to slash on-site debugging time and support simultaneous mass retrofits across regions and countries.

2.Proven track record with major chain brands:

We have delivered energy retrofit and centralised monitoring projects for well-known European retail and fast-food chains including KFC and Burger King.

3.Full-cycle professional technical support:

 We offer remote debugging and custom platform development throughout the project lifecycle, plus a 2-year warranty to guarantee stable system operation for thousands of branches.

4.24/7 remote centralised management cuts on-site maintenance costs:

Headquarters can remotely diagnose all store energy equipment without frequent technician dispatches. The system automatically alerts users to abnormal power use and equipment faults; maintenance crews only attend sites after remote fault identification. Clients typically reduce daily maintenance labour costs by 30%-50%.

As mandatory energy-saving renovation policies are fully enforced across the EU, chain stores have no grace period for energy efficiency upgrades. Acrel’s one-stop energy renovation platform addresses core challenges including compliance pressure, data silos and excessive operation & maintenance costs. Supported by proven chain project references, self-developed integrated hardware and software, as well as full-cycle end-to-end technical services, we help European supermarket and fast-food brands build unified group-wide energy management systems and achieve sustained electricity cost savings.

Feel free to contact Acrel’s energy solutions team to customise a dedicated energy-saving renovation plan for your chain store network.