There’s no doubt that 2020 was a whirlwind of a year. COVID-19 presented numerous challenges for most businesses, with lasting effects that are making it difficult or impossible to balance the books. Combine this with climate change-related impacts, such as the California wildfires, and it’s easy to understand why some companies are taking steps to mitigate financial obstacles while meeting sustainability goals simultaneously.
SunPower partnered with some reputable brands to install significant solar projects across the country. Here are a few highlights from 2020:
MCDONALD’S
The happiest place on Earth became a little brighter and a lot more sustainable this year with a SunPower solar installation. The McDonald’s located at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, is making news for its energy-efficient design. Adorned with 1,066 rooftop solar panels, the solar system is capable of producing up to 600,000 kilowatts of electricity per year. While the solar installation stands out as the most impressive feature of this restaurant, there are other cool nods to sustainability, including a living green wall that actively absorbs rainwater and Louver windows that automatically open and close to expel hot air and draw in cool air during the summer months.
WASHINGTON METRO (WMATA)
Recently labeled as the largest community solar project in the region, the Washington Metro is covering parking lots and garages at four of its locations with SunPower solar panels. Covering the equivalent of 13 football fields, these solar projects have the capacity to generate 12.8 megawatts of solar power, providing area homeowners with utility savings. The sites are estimated to produce enough power for at least 1,500 single-family homes, offering locals a share of clean and reliable electricity for years to come.
CHEVRON
Chevron is increasing the use of renewables and offsets in support of its business. Recently, a 29-megawatt SunPower solar system was constructed at Chevron’s Lost Hills location in California. The project is predicted to produce more than 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours of solar energy within the next two decades. This is expected to cover 80% of the location’s typical energy use.
Plans for the Lost Hills location include a battery storage component. These battery modules will store energy generated from the solar arrays during peak solar output to dispatch later when solar output is lower, helping Chevron receive additional savings on electricity.
GILEAD
Gilead is also committed to environmental stewardship. With a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 25% by 2025, Gilead has invested in cleaner sources of electricity. Currently, five of Gilead’s locations operate solely on renewable energy. One such location in Foster City, California, boasts a SunPower system expected to generate over 9 million kWh of clean solar energy annually.
These featured projects provide a snapshot of the exciting work SunPower is doing with brands from coast to coast. In fact, data from Wood Mackenzie’s U.S. commercial solar leaderboard report positions SunPower as the #1 Commercial Solar Provider for installations and module technology for three consecutive years. Businesses consistently trust SunPower for its high-quality solar solutions and comprehensive warranty. In fact, SunPower often works with the same companies for additional installations.