Retail giant Walmart is intensifying its commitment to renewable energy with plans to develop over 1 gigawatt (GW) of solar projects across various installations, including distributed, utility-scale, and community initiatives.
One of Walmart’s key initiatives is the expansion of distributed generation and community solar projects to serve more than 13,000 households across six states. This expansion effort will result in over 70 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity across 26 projects, generating approximately 160,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) annually.
The company’s comprehensive renewable energy plans encompass three main components:
Community Solar: Walmart aims to deploy 2 GW of community solar capacity, allowing households to subscribe to power from local solar farms. This approach empowers individuals to access renewable energy without the need for on-site installations.
On-Site Solar and Storage: Walmart plans to install 1 GW of solar capacity directly on-site, coupled with storage solutions.
Utility Agreements: An additional 77 MW of renewable power will be secured through direct agreements with utilities.
Currently, renewable energy sources account for about 47% of Walmart’s operations, with an ambitious goal of surpassing 50% by 2025 and achieving 100% reliance on renewable energy by 2035. The company already operates over 600 renewable energy projects globally, spanning both on-site and off-site installations.
As part of its latest initiatives, Walmart will procure power from utility-scale projects totaling 842 MW in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Additionally, a 15-year agreement with EDP Renewables North America will provide Walmart with 162 MW of solar power from a 180 MW project in Texas, enough to power over 27,000 homes.
In the realm of community solar, Walmart is partnering with Colorado-based Pivot Energy and Illinois-based Reactivate to develop 70 MW across 15 sites. These projects will benefit tens of thousands of customers in states such as California, Illinois, Colorado, Maryland, and Delaware.
The renewable energy push aligns with Walmart’s broader sustainability strategy, aiming to reduce its environmental footprint while contributing to local communities’ access to clean energy. Through innovative projects like community solar and on-site installations, Walmart continues to demonstrate leadership in corporate sustainability and renewable energy adoption.