Target Passes Walmart As Top US Corporate Installer of Solar Power (electrek.co)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Electrek: Target is the top corporate installer of solar power in the USA with 147MW installed on 300 stores. Walmart is close behind with 140MW, while Ikea has installed solar on 90% of its retail locations. The Solar Energy Institute of America (SEIA) report shows over 1,000MW of solar installed in almost 2,000 unique installations by the largest corporate entities in the country. Additionally these groups have more than doubled their installation volume year on year, with 2015 seeing a total of 130MW, while 2016 is projected to be closer to 280MW. Big box retail locations offer some of the best potential spaces for solar power to be installed -- on top of square, flat structures and in previously built parking lots. The average size of an installation by a company in this group is about 500kW -- 75X the size of an average residential solar installation. The RE100 organization has signed up 81 global corporations (many on the SEIA list) who have pledged 100% renewable energy. "We're incredibly proud of the progress we've made in improving building efficiencies and reducing environmental impact. Our commitment to installing solar panels on 500 stores and distribution centers by 2020 is evidence of that progress" -- said John Leisen, vice president of property management at Target. The geographic breakdown of solar installations is based upon three main drivers -- good sunlight, expensive electricity and state level renewable mandates, with Southern California having all three. The northeast USA, with its expensive electricity and aggressive clean energy push, has been on par with California (50% of total solar) for commercial installations. A report put together by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) breaks down the various state level laws that support corporations going green -- and, without surprise, it becomes clear that the legal support of renewable energy is a definite driver.

Comments

Sounds good

[Ol Olsoc]

While deniers continue to say that solar simply doesn't work, stores doing this seem to still be making profit.

Re:Sounds good

[Dutch Gun]

No one (sane) questions whether solar works or not. It's a pretty straightforward technology, and it's intuitively ideal for reducing demand during peak hours, typically the middle of the work day. There are, however, questions about whether the economics make sense without government subsidies, which is where we'd like to eventually end up, I think.

For businesses, obviously an economic incentive is the most straightforward driver, and if it's good for the environment too, that's a happy bonus. I'm hopeful that over the next few years we'll start seeing some actual results with real numbers for installations on a mass scale over time - not projections, but real, historical data. I guess it also depends whether these corporations are willing to release those numbers over the next decade or so. You'd think that would be a requirement of getting these generous government subsidies (anyone know if it is?).

Re:Sounds good

[Ol Olsoc]

No one (sane) questions whether solar works or not.

I'm inclined to agree, but I get a lot of the "it won't work" responses on Slashdot.

It's a pretty straightforward technology, and it's intuitively ideal for reducing demand during peak hours, typically the middle of the work day. There are, however, questions about whether the economics make sense without government subsidies, which is where we'd like to eventually end up, I think.

Certainly. But since technology desn't stay in one place, That situation willt change. The economies of scale can make some pretty complex and involved processes very inexpensive. I was shocked to see that a lot of solar installations are even going in place in Alaska. Now while it's true that the really long nights of winter render the cells pretty useless, they allow them to save a lot of money on diesel fuel, and can stockpile it during the summer for those winter days. In the summer they have a lot of sunlight.

I'm big on alternative energy, and was still surprised to see an economic solution to a big logistics problem in that neck of the woods.

Some will remain opposed for various reasons, and no amount of progress will change that.

Re:Sounds good

[Arnold Reinhold]

The data you link to shows that large scale hydro energy output has declined sharply since 2010, presumably due to the drought, while wind and solar output have increased by about the same amount, making up the difference and leaving thermal output flat over the period, since overall demand was flat. If the drought is temporary, this will correct itself; if the drought is due to long term climate change, continued growth in wind and solar will soon start to reduce thermal generation needs. Either way, it's wind and solar that are working, large scale hydro not so much.

Re: Wrapup phrase should read

[ShanghaiBill]

And the support of the US Miltary is the protector of Middle East oil. What is your point? It is called leveling the playing field.

Solar power is used to generate electricity. Oil is used as a transportation fuel. Those are two different markets. You should compare solar subsidies to tax breaks for gas fracking instead. That would make more sense.

Re: Wrapup phrase should read

[aaarrrgggh]

Rooftop solar is good energy policy: domestic, local, distributed. Add in on-site storage, and you have a real winner, as the maximum solar penetration can safely go from 15% to 45% of peak load(/circuit capacity). For bonus points, add in pollution, and fuel cells even start to make good sense at a reasonable penetration. I am working on a couple new buildings now with a combined PV system of about 1MW... for pretty small buildings in the scheme of things.

Net Zero is coming...

idiot shareholders are reason to go private

[bussdriver]

It is nice to see a publicly traded corporation actually doing LONG TERM PLANNING. This will save Target money long term and provide good PR in the short term. I would think most retail stores use less power than their roof collects... I wonder how they deal with all that extra power when many places have a whole different set of grid-tie regulations when your output exceeds just a few MW. In my area you dare not exceed 3 MW because then you must become a power company.

Whenever a corporation goes public it is just a matter of time before they become evil, or more evil than they were. Short termed thinking of shareholders and their similar minded funds are what cause the bean counters to take over control from the competent management and engineers and founders which made the corporation succeed in the first place (except in those cases where they go public just to get more suckers to invest.)

Re: Wrapup phrase should read

[PopeRatzo]

Rooftop solar is good energy policy: domestic, local, distributed. Add in on-site storage, and you have a real winner, as the maximum solar penetration can safely go from 15% to 45% of peak load(/circuit capacity). For bonus points, add in pollution, and fuel cells even start to make good sense at a reasonable penetration. I am working on a couple new buildings now with a combined PV system of about 1MW... for pretty small buildings in the scheme of things.

Your sensible argument has no place in this discussion. You must have gotten lost on your way to Huffington Post you filthy hippie.

Walmart also uses direct solar

[Trailer Trash]

Walmart has been using direct solar for lighting for 10+ years now - something I haven't seen Target do anywhere. In a newer Walmart the fluorescent lights only come on as needed to keep the light at a certain level. Noon with bright sunlight will have no electrical lighting on in a store.

https://www.google.com/maps/@3...

The grid of little squares are the solar powered "lights".

Young Target for comparison:

https://www.google.com/maps/@3...

Re:Walmart also uses direct solar

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry for posting anon, but having difficulties logging in right now. Also, full disclosure, I'm a property technician for Target.

There's also a big difference in how Target and Walmart design their stores. There are a few stores Target has that uses direct lighting in, one in the greater metro Detroit area. For the most part though it isn't as feasible with how they have their drop ceilings set up. Walmart uses a more industrial design with a high, exposed girder system and full runs of florescents across the entire building. Target on the other hand uses a drop ceiling with an average height of 14ft and a floor with a high gloss finish to maximize the uses of it's grid pattern lighting solutions. Any type of direct lighting would be difficult to add into the brand image Target has for it's stores.

Re: Wrapup phrase should read

[Ranbot]

yeah if u live in Arizona or Florida. not so good for northern states

The myth that solar only works in southern states was debunked years ago. There's plenty of sun in northern climates to make solar very efficient. The country with the most installed solar capacity in the world, Germany (~32,000 MW), has a nearly identical climate to most northern US states (e.g. four full seasons, clouds, rain, snow, mountains, valleys, forests, etc.).