U.S. retail giant to buy solar power

BENTONVILLE, Arkansas, US, May 16, 2007. One of the largest retail chains in the United States will purchase solar electricity for 22 of its stores.

Wal-Mart Stores will buy 20 million kWh per year from BP Solar, SunEdison and PowerLight, a subsidiary of SunPower. The green power will be used in Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Clubs and a distribution centre in Hawaii and California.

“We are taking aggressive steps towards our goal of being supplied by 100% renewable energy,” says Kim Saylors-Laster of Wal-Mart. “The pilot project is yet another example of Wal-Mart’s commitment to making decisions that are good for business and the environment.”

When fully implemented, the aggregate purchase could be one of the top-ten solar power initiatives in the U.S., if not the world, the company claims. Each solar power system will provide up to 30% of the electricity for the store on which it is installed and the solar systems will reduce GHG emissions by 6,500 to 10,000 tonnes per year.

“We applaud Wal-Mart’s drive to increase its use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and look forward to the long-term positive impact their efforts will have on our environment,” said Ron Judkoff of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “Wal-Mart’s decision to take advantage of the economic and environmental benefits of solar power and energy efficiency technologies is a great step in the right direction.”

Wal-Mart is testing wind and solar generation systems in its experimental stores in McKinney (Texas) and Aurora (Colorado). The results from these stores and the pilot project will point to additional ways to achieve renewable energy goals and determine how to move forward with solar power generation at additional Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Clubs and distribution centres.

“As a global business leader, Wal-Mart has chosen to generate clean, renewable solar power at its facilities because it makes good business sense and supports the company’s environmental initiatives,” says Tom Werner of SunPower. “SunPower and our PowerLight subsidiary are committed to making solar an affordable, simple choice for businesses.”

“These simplified solar-powered energy services will enable Wal-Mart to realize that environmental conservation can be enjoyed in accordance with the benefits of reduced as well as predictable long term energy pricing,” adds Jigar Shah of SunEdison. “We look forward to moving ahead with the project and working with Wal-Mart to determine how to best reach their renewable energy goals.”

SunEdison will provide four solar systems in Hawaii and four in California, while PowerLight and BP Solar will each supply seven systems in California. All 15 installations are subject to appropriate permits and approvals in the two states.

Wal-Mart will use the power generated by solar panels onsite at each store and will keep the Renewable Energy Credits from each unit, which is unique among most solar power purchases. Allowing Wal-Mart to maintain ownership of the RECs and its stores’ environmental benefits is an important factor in allowing Wal-Mart to reach its goal of being supplied by 100% renewable energy, the company notes.

“We’re delighted Wal-Mart has decided to move forward with these solar power installations and believe the company will soon see significant reductions in its electric bills and help lower GHG emissions,” says Lee Edwards of BP Solar. “By working together, companies like BP and Wal-Mart help make solar more affordable for everyone.”

BP Solar is a key business within BP Alternative Energy with 2,200 employees. With installations in 160 countries, BP Solar is one of the world’s largest solar companies with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Spain, India and Australia.

Sun Edison is a solar energy services provider and provides solar-generated energy at or below current retail utility rates to a client base of commercial, municipal and utility customers. SunPower manufactures high-efficiency solar cells and panels which generate 50% more power per unit area than conventional solar technologies, it claims, and has installed 100 MW of capacity.

Wal-Mart operates Wal-Mart discount stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Club locations in the U.S. and also operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.

News of the purchase comes after U.K.-based Tesco said it would invest $13 million to install a solar roof on its new California distribution centre, which it claims may be among the world's largest solar projects. Tesco, the third-largest retailer in the world, will begin rolling out its first U.S. Fresh & Easy stores this fall.

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