BP Solar has announced it won a bid to develop 4.3 megawatts of solar energy systems for seven Wal-Mart Stores in California. Under the agreement, BP Solar will sell all of the energy produced by the solar modules as well as operate and maintain the systems. No upfront capital investment will be needed by Wal-Mart, a benefit BP Solar offers to its commercial customers under its solar services agreement.
In addition, Wal-Mart will benefit from receiving all of the renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with the energy output of the systems.
According to Lee Edwards, BP Solar CEO, "Momentum is building in the domestic and global marketplace and BP Solar is building market share through capital investment not only in manufacturing capacity but in innovative customer offers. This project will prove that solar electric systems are economical and environmentally friendly from a business perspective by increasing energy security and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. By working together, companies like BP and Wal-Mart help make solar more affordable for everyone."
The Wal-Mart pilot project contributes to BP Solar's leadership position in the North American solar market and demonstrates BP Solar's strong project development capabilities for large commercial systems.
"We are taking aggressive steps towards our goal of being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy," said Kim Saylors-Laster, vice president of energy for Wal-Mart. "The pilot project is yet another example of Wal-Mart's commitment to making decisions that are good for business and the environment."
BP Solar's share of the pilot project is part of a larger project to include 22 Wal-Mart locations in Hawaii and California. As part of a pilot project to determine solar power viability for Wal-Mart, the total solar power production from the 22 sites is estimated to be as much as 20 million kWh (kilowatt-hours) per year. Each solar power generating system installed can provide up to 30 percent of the power for the store on which it is installed. By Wal-Mart's estimates, installing the solar power systems will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6,500-10,000 metric tons per year.
