From pv magazine USA
Sol Systems said it completed solar energy systems totaling 6.5 MW at seven Walmart stores in California.
The portfolio includes a mixture of solar energy systems installed on rooftops and parking lot carports. The total development cost was around $10 million, and Bank of America served as a tax equity partner. The retail outlets will take all of the energy. Interconnection approvals involved four separate utilities.
The fixed-axis solar arrays will power stores in Burbank, Calexico, North Highlands, Perris, Placerville, Sacramento, and Wasco. The portfolio was developed by Sol Customer Solutions, a unit of Sol Systems, a joint-venture with global infrastructure investment firm Capital Dynamics. REC was the construction subcontractor. Trina supplied the modules and the inverters were sourced from CPS.
The projects began construction in 2020. Sol Systems said it developed and financed more than 200 MW of solar energy last year.
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Congratulations Walmart.
Good Going Walmart. It is certainly nice to see Big Retailers with large car parks finally come to realize that all of that “open air space” can also be A) an Income Generator or B) offset the business operational power costs which saves money & again helps on the profit side.
Sadly, there is no mention IF they included EV-Charging Facilities and if so, to what level. I imagine they would have included such BUT we know, that often the most obvious of things become an afterthought.
I believe that Solar Carports / Car Parks are just now only coming to a point where retailers, and other businesses which have large parking lots and beginning to realize that, that land space has a Revenue Generating / Energy cost Offsetting which can really enhance the bottom line.
How many thousands of acres of Parking Lots are out there doing nothing other than just provide a space for people to put their cars…
How many of those open “Pay Parking” parking lots could generate MORE income if they had Solar Covers ? Town/Village/City parking lots too.
This strategy is the most widely distributed & rapidly exploitable renewable resource available. It’s reported that parking lot canopy solar costs 40% more than utility scale solar on farmland. But I don’t believe that estimate takes into account the fact that the canopy structures have a useful life of at least 75 years, which is 3 generations of improving solar panels & batteries. After 25 years, that extra 40% has already been paid off. Also, with integrated stationary storage batteries & V2G chargers, parking lot canopies can reduce & stabilize fuel & utility costs for tenants of leased commercial property, like neighborhood shopping centers, business parks & large apartment developments. Just make this a local zoning & building ordinance like fire sprinklers or disabled accessibility.
additional benefit is the shading of a large swath of asphalt which absorbs and retains sun s heat. which i believe adds to heat islands in urban/suburban areas.
i d love to see a study on the massive amount of paving and its heat retention effects