A new report released by the Environment America Research and Policy Center and the Frontier Group states that America’s big-box retail and grocery stores if equipped with rooftop solar could produce enough electricity to power more than 7.9 million households.
Large retail establishments, also called big-box stores, could generate 84.4TWh of solar capacity and California has the potential to produce the highest capacity, enough to power 870,000 households, according to the study.
Big-box stores and shopping centers could replace half of their annual electricity use by fully building out their rooftop solar potential, states the study.
In addition to helping ensure the stability of the grid, equipping the stores with solar would help owners reduce energy bills, achieve sustainability goals, as well as help communities ensure better air quality.
Moreover, store rooftop solar PV projects could help cut electricity losses incurred during energy transmission and distribution.
Florida, Texas, Ohio and Illinois states have also been identified as regions with the potential to help the US speed up its energy revolution through the use case.
Amongst the big-box companies, Walmart is producing the most capacity from solar. The company produces three times more solar energy than its closest competitors per annum.
Walmart has to date saved over $1 million in energy bills owing to onsite solar PV projects.
Other leaders include Apple, Amazon and Target.
