Amazon plans to deploy of large-scale solar systems on the rooftops of more 15 fulfillment and sortation centers – representing 41 MW of generation – nationwide this year, the Seattle-based company announced on March 2.
In addition, Jeff Bezos’ electronic commerce and media juggernaut will extend the initiative globally by 2020 – to 50 overseas fulfillment and sortation centers.
The initial solar projects planned for completion by the power up facilities in California, New Jersey, Maryland, Nevada, and Delaware.
Depending on the specific project, time of year, and other factors, a solar installation could generate as much as 80 percent of a single fulfillment facility’s annual energy needs, Amazon said. For example, solar panels installed on the rooftop of the Patterson, California, fulfillment center cover more than three-quarters of the 1.1 million- square-foot building’s.
Amazon’s recent renewable energy projects include the company’s largest wind farm to date, located in Texas. In addition, a network of wind and solar farms in Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia are delivering energy onto the electric grid that powers Amazon Web Service data centers.
To date, Amazon has announced or commenced construction on projects which will generate a total of 3.6 million MW of renewable energy.
“As our fulfillment network continues to expand, we want to help generate more renewable energy at both existing and new facilities around the world in partnership with community and business leaders,” said Dave Clark, SVP of Worldwide Operations.
“We are putting our scale and inventive culture to work on sustainability—this is good for the environment, our business and our customers,” Clark added. “By diversifying our energy portfolio, we can keep business costs low and pass along further savings to customers. It’s a win-win.”
