Technical Solar Photovoltaic Potential of Scaled Parking Lot Canopies: A Case Study of Walmart U.S.A.

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology can provide sustainable power for the growing global population in cities, but it demands considerable land area. This is a challenge for densely populated cities. However, the stranded assets of non-productive parking lots areas can be converted to solar farms with PV canopies, enabling sustainable electricity generation while preserving their function to park automobiles. This study provides a method for determining the technical and economic potential for converting a national scale retail company's parking lot area to a solar farm. First, the parking lot area for the company is determined and divided into zones based upon solar flux using virtual maps. Then the potential PV yield in each zone is calculated. A sensitivity analysis is performed on the price per unit power installed, solar energy production as a proxy for conversion efficiency, electricity rates and revenue earned per unit area. To demonstrate this method, analysis of Walmart Supercenters, USA is presented as a case study. The results show solar canopies for parking lot areas are a profitable as well a responsible step in most locations and there is significant potential for sustainable energy deployment in cities by other similar retailers using solar PV canopies. Resumo: A tecnologia solar fotovoltaica (PV) pode fornecer energia sustentável para a crescente população global nas cidades, mas exige área de terra considerável. Este é um desafio para cidades densamente povoadas. No entanto, os ativos encalhados de áreas não produtivas de lotes de estacionamento podem ser convertidos em fazendas solares com coberturas fotovoltaicas, permitindo a geração sustentável de eletricidade, preservando sua função de estacionar automóveis. Este estudo fornece um método para determinar o potencial técnico e econômico para converter a área de estacionamento de uma empresa de varejo em escala nacional em uma fazenda solar. Primeiro, a área de estacionamento da empresa é determinada e dividida em zonas baseadas no fluxo solar usando mapas virtuais. Em seguida, calcula-se o rendimento potencial de PV em cada zona. Uma análise de sensibilidade é realizada sobre o preço por unidade de energia instalada, a produção de energia solar como um Proxy ou tentativa para avaliar a eficiência de conversão, as taxas de electricidade e as receitas obtidas por unidade de área. Para demonstrar este método, uma análise de supermercados Walmart nos Estados e utilizado como um estudo de caso. Os resultados mostram que telhados solares para áreas de estacionamento são rentáveis e representam uma inicativa responsável na maioria dos locais, e há um potencial significativo para a implantação de energia sustentável em cidades por outros varejistas semelhantes usando telhados solares fotovoltaicos.

Performance and analysis of retail store‐centered microgrids with solar photovoltaic parking lot, cogeneration, and battery‐based hybrid systems

“…From Walmart parking lot area (Aw) which is 21,000 m 2 67 and packing factor (PF) which is 170 W/m 2 the PV size ( P sw ) calculated is 3.57 MW. The PV system size is thus constrained by the parking lot area.…”

“…Big‐box retailers such as Walmart, Kohl's, Costco, Staples, Target and IKEA are already covering their rooftops with PV and are familiar with the techno‐economic optimization process of meeting their own electrical demands 61‐66 . However, the parking lots of such retailers present an additional opportunity as medium‐scale solar farms, far exceeding in store demands 67 . Thus, retail stores could provide an anchor for an aggressive distribution of microgrids in North America.…”

Achieving 100% Renewable and Self-Sufficient Electricity in Impoverished, Rural, Northern Climates: Case Studies from Upper Michigan, USA

“…Stakeholders and residents will play critical roles in such decision-making processes. For instance, large commercial customers such as Walmart [129] can be a host to municipal EV charging stations through a carefully developed memorandum of understanding.…”

The Economic Impacts of Walmart Supercenters

“…Kahn & Kok (2014) showed that Walmart stores use less electricity per store than comparably large stores in other retail chains. Krishnan et al (2017) documented the widespread implementation of solar panels on Supercenter roofs and discussed the feasibility of extending solar panels to parking lots. Tan et al (2018) studied Walmart's use of blockchain technology, itself a topic of growing relevance in food and agriculture, to reduce food waste and the company's carbon footprint.…”