The advance of El Niño drove a 3.8% increase in energy consumption in Brazilian supermarkets in August, boosting demand for refrigeration and HVAC systems.
The climate scenario imposed by El Niño is redefining the landscape of energy consumption in Brazil, especially in the food retail sector. A detailed analysis conducted by NEO Estech reveals a significant 3.8% increase in total energy demand for supermarkets in August compared to the previous month. This increase, observed in over 82% of the monitored facilities, raises an alert about the urgent need for energy efficiency and sustainability strategies to mitigate the impacts of this phenomenon.
The most critical point of this scenario is the direct impact on essential systems for the sector’s operation. Air conditioning, for example, recorded an average jump of 29% in consumption between July and August, while commercial refrigeration, vital for food preservation, saw its demand grow by 5%. Such increases not only reflect rising temperatures but also highlight the pressure on the infrastructure and operating costs of these establishments.
Increased demand in critical systems
The NEO Estech research, which covers a representative sample of over 52% of the national food retail market, including giants like Carrefour, Assaí, and Atacadão, demonstrates that the heat intensified by El Niño directly overloads climate control systems. In addition to the increased use of air conditioning and refrigeration, condensation alerts—indicators of greater equipment strain—also rose by 8.3%. This outlook requires a deep review of energy management practices and a greater focus on operational resilience.
Climate outlook and future challenges
Climate projections released by INMET, based on data from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC/NOAA), indicate a more than 90% probability that the period from September to November of this year will experience a strong-intensity El Niño event.
Having begun in June, the phenomenon is expected to persist until at least March 2027, signaling a prolonged challenge for clean energy and sustainability in commerce. The forecast for the continuation of this climate scenario dictates the need for long-term actions for energy savings.
Waste and proposed solutions
The NEO Estech analysis identified that nearly a quarter (22.6%) of the assessed facilities showed some type of energy waste.
The causes are varied and include equipment operating outside ideal parameters, inadequate operating hours, incorrect setpoints, and failures in preventive maintenance. To combat these losses, the company recommends that supermarkets establish consumption baselines per store and per system, considering variables such as external temperature and peak hours, in addition to intensifying maintenance on crucial components like condensers, compressors, and ventilation systems.
As highlighted in another report:
GreenYellow reduces energy bills for six supermarkets by 24%
Given the continuous increase in demand for energy due to El Niño, energy management becomes not just a measure for cost savings, but a fundamental pillar for the sustainability of the supermarket sector.
Investing in more efficient technologies, performing proactive maintenance, and constantly monitoring consumption are crucial steps to ensure operational and environmental resilience, adapting to new climate realities and advancing toward a future with more clean energy.
