Milestone Highlights Relationship that Spans 51 Projects Across 7 States
PVTIME – EDPR NA Distributed Generation LLC (“EDPR NA DG”), the distributed business unit of EDP Renewables, announced that it is nearing completion of the 39th distributed solar project with Walmart from a portfolio of projects that commenced in 2020.
The long-standing relationship has resulted in a total of 51 distributed energy projects installed to date by EDPR NA DG for Walmart across seven states, including Arizona, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Louisiana, Maryland, and South Carolina.
The projects, ranging from rooftop to ground mount projects, generate a total of 38.3 MW of energy which is equivalent to an annual offset of 27.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide or 9.2 tons of waste recycled instead of landfilled, according to the U.S. EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.
Using the latest in environmental innovation, EDPR worked with Walmart to support its commitment to pollinator-friendly solar by building a ground mount solar array at its Laurens, SC distribution center, featuring pollinator mixes that restore regional biodiversity. This effort, which is part of what is the largest pollinator health effort from a U.S. grocery retailer to date, aims to reduce several pollinator threats through the promotion of integrated pest management (IPM) practices and improving and expanding pollinator habitats. In addition to attracting beneficial pollinators, the project also lessens the stormwater impact and increases the visual appeal of the installation.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, in 2019, Walmart added the most solar of any company in the U.S., increasing their solar use by more than 35 percent. And according to the EPA Green Power Partnership Top 30 Retail Ranking, Walmart was the top retailer in terms of annual green power usage in the U.S. in 2020.
“We greatly value our relationship with Walmart and have been pleased to assist in the financing, developing, and constructing of these projects. We approached each site with a commitment to safety, while strategically ensuring that we would achieve Walmart’s overall financial, environmental, and sustainability goals,” stated EDPR NA DG Chief Investment Officer Richard Dovere. “Creativity and innovation underscored our collaboration with Walmart in its continuing journey to becoming a significant carbon neutral leader.
“We’re pleased to collaborate with EDP Renewables on the installation of these onsite solar projects that drive local environmental benefits, support the local economy and demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship in the communities we serve across the U.S., noted Zach Freeze, Senior Director for Sustainability at Walmart. Combined with our utility-scale efforts, these projects continue to advance our achievement of becoming a regenerative company powered by 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 and achieving zero emissions across our operations by 2040.”
In 2020, renewable sources supplied an estimated 36 percent of Walmart’s electricity needs globally. As of the end of 2020, Walmart had more than 550 onsite and offsite projects in operation or under development in eight countries, 30 U.S. states, and Puerto Rico.
In 2019, EDPR NA DG’s New Jersey portfolio, which was comprised of five solar installations for Walmart, won the Large-Scale Project of the Year award from Solar Builder Magazine. The Walmart Bayonne Supercenter was the featured recipient of the award.
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