Home Depot going solar
The Home Depot announced that 100 megawatts (MW) of solar energy purchased from National Grid Renewables at its solar and storage project in Denton County, Texas, known as Noble, will generate the equivalent of nearly eight percent of the retailer’s total electricity usage.
“With this purchase, we are getting a step closer to our goal to produce or procure 100% renewable electricity equivalent to the needs of our facilities,” said Ron Jarvis, chief sustainability officer for Home Depot.
The firm said it has pledged to produce or procure 100% renewable electricity equivalent to the electricity needs for all its facilities by 2030, expanding the company’s previous commitment to produce or procure 335 megawatts of renewable or alternative energy by 2025.
“We anticipate about three-quarters of our alternative and renewable energy capacity will come from solar energy by the end of 2023,” said Jarvis.
Noble is a 275 MW solar and a 125 megawatt hour (MWh) energy storage project located in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
“Noble is projected to avoid 450,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually during operation,” said the retailer.
Since 2010, the large retailer said it has reduced electricity consumption in its U.S. stores by 50% and currently operates rooftop solar farms on more than 80 stores and electricity-generating fuel cells in more than 200 stores.
The company reported it currently purchases solar power from a 75 MW facility and is under contract for another 50 MW of solar capacity. It also purchases energy from a 50 MW wind facility.
The retailer said it expects the combined annual renewable energy generation from these agreements would be enough to power more than 500 stores.