Walmart’s commitment to solar energy is nearly a decade old — a decision we made for many reasons. For one, using the power of the sun and installing solar panels lowers our energy costs and is clearly good for the environment, but another benefit is that it keeps prices low for our customers.
Since 2007, when we made a formal commitment to being more energy efficient, we have taken significant steps toward making that a reality, including solar installations and even eco-roofs. But we’re always looking to build on that success, so we’ve continued our goal setting in this area.
This week we signed on to the Department of Energy’s Better Building’s Initiative, which commits to reducing the energy intensity of Walmart U.S. buildings by 20 percent versus 2010 by 2020. And today we announced that Walmart will double the number of solar energy projects in the U.S. and Puerto Rico by 2020.
Our commitment to solar has paid off. In fact, since our first on-site solar installation in the U.S. in 2007 we have become the No. 1 commercial solar energy user according to the Solar Energy Industry Association and are now recognized as the largest on-site renewable energy user in America by the EPA’s Green Power Partnership. Our efforts have even been publicly recognized by President Bill Clinton. And today, of course, President Obama made a visit to a Walmart in Mountain View, Calif. to highlight the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy in keeping America strong.
At the end of 2013, we had more than 335 renewable energy projects in operation or under development across our global portfolio. These projects provide our facilities with more than 2.2 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable electricity annually. Together with renewable electricity from the grid, 24.2 percent of our electricity needs globally are supplied by renewable sources.
What’s more is that last year we committed to driving the production or procurement of 7 billion kWh of renewable energy globally by Dec. 31, 2020. We’re already 32 percent of the way there, but we’re not finished. And we’re doing even more to meet that goal, including:
- Walmart U.S. installed 240 solar projects through 2013, saving approximately $4.8 million. Walmart U.S. grew its number of fuel-cell sites to 42, each site providing 40 percent to 60 percent of store needs. These new systems bring us closer to our anticipated total of more than 1,000 projects worldwide.
- Walmart’s first 1 MW wind turbine completed its first year of operation. It provides approximately 15 percent to 20 percent of the total electricity required by our Red Bluff Distribution Center in California.
- Walmart Mexico broke ground on four large-scale renewable energy projects that will be completed in 2014. Combined, these projects will add 252 megawatts (MW) of clean energy. Walmart Mexico is on track to supply 60 percent of its energy demand needs for 1,233 stores through renewable energy by the end of 2014.
- Walmart Brazil entered a bid to purchase green power on the open market sourced from sugar mill, hydropower and small hydropower plants. To date, 84 stores are being served by this clean energy, with an expected savings of 11.5 percent on each store’s energy bill. Eventually, 97 stores will be served through this green power bid.
Our work in renewable
energy is an ongoing process, one that we are fully committed to because the
future of the environment depends on it—and our customers deserve it.
For more details on our approach to renewable energy, please read our white paper on the topic.