Various sources are reporting the world’s largest retailer, Walmart, will be partially powering half of its Massachusetts stores with solar energy very soon.
27 of its Massachusetts stores will have solar panel arrays installed by 2014, representing a total capacity of 10 megawatts. Walmart director of energy, David Ozment, said he expects the solar power systems to produce enough electricity to provide 10-15 percent of each store’s energy requirements.
The contribution to Ohio’s clean energy mix will help the state reach a target of 250 MW of solar power installations by 2017; a target it is close to halfway meeting currently. The state offers rebates for solar installations, with further incentives for installs using components manufactured in Massachusetts.
The systems add to Walmart’s already significant on-site renewable energy portfolio. As of last month, the company had 115 rooftop solar arrays in seven countries, collectively generating 71 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
In California, nearly 75% of Walmart-owned locations will have commercial solar power installations by the end of next year.
In April, Walmart announced it is utilising 1.1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity from US renewable energy sources annually; representing approximately 22% of the electricity consumed by the company’s buildings globally. Walmart aims to be powered by 100% renewables.
Another major retailer embracing solar power is IKEA. In 2011, solar panel installations on 40 IKEA buildings in seven countries and 60 wind turbines owned by the company produced 152 gigawatt hours of electricity; around 12 percent of the electricity needed to run all IKEA stores and distribution centres.
Another 20 PV projects are in IKEA’s pipeline and investment decisions have been taken for a total of 124 photovoltaic projects. If the current rate of progress is maintained, the company hopes to achieve 70-80 percent renewable energy by 2015.
(* Apologies to the Bee Gees)
