Greentech Lead America: SunEdison, a provider of solar energy services and subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials, and Staples, an Internet retailer and provider of office products, have unveiled the latest solar power installation at Staples’ global headquarters campus in Framingham, Mass.
The project is Staples’ 37th solar array and brings the company’s use of solar power to a total of nearly 14 megawatts across its operations nationally.
Staples is ranked among the top ten renewable power users on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership list.
The 685 kilowatt solar installation in Framingham consists of more than 2,440 SunEdison Silvantis solar modules and will generate an estimated 850,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy annually to help power Staples’ 650,000 square-foot headquarters office building.
The solar power system will offset more than 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) over the next 20 years—a reduction equivalent to removing more than 2,300 cars driving 12,000 miles per year. Staples’ total solar power use nationally has offset more than 42,000 tons of CO2 over the past eight years.
The SunEdison/Staples solar program is made possible through power purchase agreements between SunEdison and Staples which require no capital outlays from Staples. SunEdison develops, finances, and operates and manages the solar installations, and Staples buys the energy produced at long-term, predictable pricing.
Staples has used more than 48 million kWh of solar energy since 2005 from 37 solar arrays. Staples uses renewable power for 100 percent of its total US electricity consumption – which is more than 636 million kWh – through on-site solar projects combined with green power purchases.
The power from these renewable sources is used across the company’s facilities, including Staples retail stores, delivery fulfillment centers, customer service call centers and sales offices.
Staples has set a sustainability vision to generate business and environmental benefits for customers, communities and the company.
The company achieves this through a focus on selling more sustainable products and services; offering easy recycling solutions; eliminating operational waste; maximizing energy efficiency and renewable energy use and; becoming a sustainability leader in the global community, the company said.