Wal-Mart, SunEdison announce solar-energy pilot in Puerto Rico

Bentonville, Ark. Walmart Puerto Rico and SunEdison announced plans to deploy rooftop solar systems on five Walmart PR stores with the potential for 23 stores during the next five years. The project will be the largest renewable-energy project ever developed on the island, and given traditional energy rates, will provide the chain with long-term predictably priced solar-generated energy.

Under a solar-power services agreement with Walmart, SunEdison will finance, own, build and operate the photovoltaic solar-energy systems. Construction on the first 895kW rooftop system, at Walmart Supercenter Caguas, is scheduled to begin before the end of 2009.

“Through the implementation of energy-saving strategies and the installation of energy-efficient equipments, last year we achieved an 8.7% reduction in energy consumption compared to the previous year. With this solar-energy project we’ll continue to broaden our efforts towards our main objective and commitment of being supplied 100% by renewable energy,” said Renzo Casillo, president and CEO of Walmart Puerto Rico.

According to Casillo, new Walmart stores in Puerto Rico are 21% more energy-efficient than the retailer’s original 2005 stores.