What do you get when you take two innovative American solar-panel manufacturers and combine them with the world’s biggest retailer? A slew of new solar energy projects, 500 new jobs and a whole lotta clean, predictably priced power. Thank you, may we have some more?
In recent years, Walmart has been busy installing solar panels at stores in southern California, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Today the retail giant announced plans to add solar energy systems at another 20 to 30 sites in California and Arizona, a move that will produce enough clean energy annually to power the equivalent of 1,750 American homes.
Most of Walmart’s new projects will, according to CNET, make use of thin-film solar modules from two American solar panel manufacturers: Tempe, Arizona-based First Solar, and MiaSolé, a relatively young solar manufacturing company based in Santa Clara, California. First Solar’s modules are made using cadmium telluride (“cad tel,” in wonk speak), while MiaSolé’s use a combination of copper, indium, gallium and selenide (CIGS). Both company’s panels are low-cost alternatives to conventional silicon-based solar panels.
Walmart’s rooftop solar installation in Palm Desert, California (photo courtesy of BP Solar)
When all is said and done, Walmart expects the freshly announced projects to supply 20 to 30 percent of the total energy needs for each host location. It’s all part of the retailer’s broader goal of “being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy.”
