Wal-Mart Uses Thin-Film to Nearly Double PV Capacity

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Retail giant Wal-Mart plans to boost the number of Wal-Mart stores with solar photovoltaic (PV) installations from 31 (in California and Hawaii) to 50 or more in the coming months. Wal-Mart will use two types of thin-film PV—MaiSolé’s copper indium gallium selenide and First Solar’s cadmium telluride thin-film.

Thin-film is the cheapest type of PV installation per watt, but also less efficient, making them a cost-effective choice for durable installations covering a large area. Wal-Mart’s installations will supply 20%–30% of each location’s energy use, totaling an estimated production of 22.5 million kilowatt hours per year. Wal-Mart will also use more conventional PV technologies where thin-film may not be appropriate. To facilitate this process Wal-Mart hired SolarCity—which will design, install, own, and operate the solar systems. SolarCity is one of the largest solar installation companies in the country offering full service solar installation and management packages. By the close of 2010 Wal-Mart plans to incorporate solar PV systems in stores across eight countries.

– Emily Catacchio