A significant global trend is seeing major retail companies harness the power of the sun, transforming vast, unused roof space into valuable renewable energy assets. In the United States, industry leaders like Target and Walmart are setting an aggressive pace, a movement now being mirrored by major retailers in the United Kingdom as they commit to large-scale solar projects.
American Retailers Lead the Charge in Corporate Solar
Across the U.S., the retail sector’s adoption of solar power is accelerating. Target, for example, has positioned itself as a leader in corporate solar installations, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The company successfully achieved its goal of installing solar arrays on 500 of its stores and distribution centers ahead of a 2020 deadline, boasting over 240 MW of capacity by early 2024. This effort is a key part of its strategy to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Not to be outdone, Walmart announced in March 2024 its commitment to nearly 1 gigawatt of new clean energy projects, including 842 MW of solar, as it pushes toward its own goal of being powered by 100% renewables by 2035. The trend extends to other giants like IKEA, which has solarized 79% of its U.S. stores, and even wholesalers like United Natural Foods (UNFI), which recently completed a 6.7 MW rooftop project in California capable of meeting 80% of the facility’s electricity needs. Collectively, America’s big-box retailers possess an estimated 84.4 TWh of untapped rooftop solar potential—enough to power nearly 8 million homes.
UK Retailers Embrace Rooftop Solar Potential
This powerful commercial solar movement is also gaining significant traction in the UK. Home, garden, and leisure retailer The Range recently unveiled a major initiative at its Ashford location. In partnership with InRange, the company plans to cover 4.2 million square feet of warehouse rooftops with approximately 40MW of solar panels. As Solar Power Portal reported, this project is expected to slash the company’s electricity bills by at least 25% and allows them to sell surplus power back to the grid.
Alex Simpkin, CEO of The Range, highlighted the project’s importance, stating the partnership is pivotal in accelerating their journey to becoming a net-zero business and delivering immediate benefits. This single project taps into a massive national resource; research from Barbour ABI estimates that the UK’s 165 million square meters of warehouse roof space could support up to 25GWp of new solar capacity.
Local Councils Approve New Commercial Installations
The push for renewable energy is also happening at the local level. In Swindon, the Borough Council recently approved a proposal for the Orbital Retail Park to install 5,000 solar panels on its buildings. According to a report from the BBC, this installation will generate enough clean energy to meet 56% of the retail park’s needs.
The project underscores the value of securing a local, renewable energy source, especially during periods of volatile energy prices. Tenants at the shopping centre will purchase the electricity generated by the solar panels, with any excess sold to the National Grid. The council noted in its approval that the visual impact of the installation would be minimal. This kind of project, focused on specific types of solar panels and local distribution, represents a crucial piece of the UK’s broader decarbonization strategy.
Sources
- Walmart Accelerates Clean Energy Purchases and Investments With …
- Why Retail Businesses Are Racing to Go Solar – Sunergy Solutions
- Retail giant TARGET meets US solar goal ahead of schedule – Fox
- How Solar Energy Can Help Your Business in 2024
- The Rise of Commerical Solar in Texas
- Wholesale food giant completes largest rooftop solar project to date