Target extends solar commitment with two innovations

Target Corp. is extending its progress to renewable energy and making progress on its goal to have 500 buildings with rooftop solar panels by 2020.



The discounter, which currently has over 350 completed solar projects, kicked off its first combined solar and solar powered battery storage project this year, in Kona, Hawaii, in partnership with SunPower. The 910-kilowatt solar system and 250-kilowatt battery will provide over 40% of the Kona store’s energy, and capture energy during the day that will power the store’s lights, refrigeration and other essential needs later in the day.



The solar-and-storage combo will serve as a case study for the integration of clean, renewable power for other Target locations. By the end of 2017, Target plans to complete rooftop panel installations at all six of its stores across Hawaii, which offsets one-third of each building’s energy.



“As a leader in corporate solar adoption, Target sees the value of adding storage solutions to hedge against rising electricity costs, increase energy security, and meet aggressive sustainability goals,” says Nam Nguyen, senior VP, commercial, SunPower. “With extensive experience helping commercial customers maximize their solar-plus-storage investments, SunPower looks forward to supporting Target in this smart energy investment.”



Target also announced plans to install an additional 10 or more solar rooftop projects in 2017 in Arizona, where it already has 13 rooftop installations. The retailer recently unveiled its largest completed solar array, which located atop its distribution center in Phoenix. In a first, the array is in the shape of Target’s iconic bullseye logo. It will produce just under 3,000 megawatt hours of energy each year.



“We are honored to have worked with Target over a number of years to deliver low-carbon, reliable solar energy to many of their locations across the U.S.,” said Robert Scheuermann, president, SoCore Energy. “The latest additions in Arizona are particularly exciting, as they are not only some of the largest installations to date, but the design of the ‘bullseye’ rooftop solar panels is unique (and fun), and clearly reflects the importance of renewable energy to Target and delivers reliable, cost effective energy to the site every day.”



In addition, Target added its first rooftop panels in the state of Colorado to a Denver-area store in March. By the end of the year, it will have rooftop solar on five of its Colorado stores.