As the U. S. seeks to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, experts are turning their attention to the expansive rooftops of retail giants like Walmart, Target, and Costco for solar power potential. These rooftops remain largely untapped but offer significant opportunities to cut emissions and save millions in energy costs.
Consider the IKEA store in Baltimore. With solar panels on its roof and parking lot, the store reduced its energy purchases by 84% and slashed costs by 57% from September to December 2020. Additionally, the panels provide shade for parked cars, enhancing customer experience. By February 2021, IKEA had deployed 54 solar arrays across 90% of its U. S. locations.
A report by Environment America and Frontier Group reveals that big-box stores and shopping centers could meet half of their annual electricity needs through rooftop solar. This potential could generate enough power for nearly 8 million homes, reducing emissions equivalent to removing 11.3 million gas-powered cars from the road. For instance, an average Walmart store, with 180,000 square feet of rooftop space, could generate solar energy sufficient to power 200 homes.
Johanna Neumann, senior director for Environment America's 100% Renewable campaign, pointed out the underutilization of rooftops for solar energy. She stressed that now is an ideal time for local renewable energy production, with big-box stores providing a prime opportunity.
Despite the potential, only a small fraction of U. S. big-box stores have adopted rooftop solar or solar canopies in parking lots. Experts cite challenges such as regulations, labor costs, and structural issues. Edwin Cowen, a Cornell University professor, stressed the need for clean energy initiatives as climate change worsens, noting the recent emergence of policy incentives for commercial rooftop solar.
Walmart, the largest U. S. retailer, has significant solar potential with over 5,000 stores and 783 million square feet of rooftop space. The company has completed or is pursuing renewable energy projects capable of producing over 2.3 gigawatts, but many do not involve rooftop solar. Neumann has called on Walmart to adopt rooftop solar, emphasizing the substantial impact it could have.
By the end of the 2021 fiscal year, Walmart had installed nearly 194 megawatts of solar capacity on its U. S. facilities, along with additional capacity in off-site solar farms. In California, these installations are expected to cover 20% to 30% of each site's electricity needs.
Craig D'Arcy, Home Depot's director of energy management, noted that aging rooftops are a significant challenge to solar installation.
Cowen observed that while solar is becoming more attractive, labor costs, incentives, and regulatory complexities add layers of difficulty to installations. Hiring local firms knowledgeable about these aspects is essential. However, the decreasing costs of solar make it an increasingly viable option.
