Solar power is burning brighter as convenience retailers increasingly eye sustainable energy solutions.
And it’s little wonder: Convenience stores require a lot of energy to operate, from refrigeration to lighting to heating-cooling systems to distribution networks and more.
In July, bp-owned TravelCenters of America (TA) broke ground on an electric truck charging station in Ontario, California. The site, a pilot project with the California Energy Commission, is slated to become an innovation station, one that will test a megawatt charger system fueled by 250 kilowatts of canopy-mounted solar panels to generate renewable power, bp said
In 2023, Wawa reported 115 of its more than 1,000 locations were using solar power, with plans to expand that by nearly 40 stores in 2024. Solar panels, the retailer said in its Social Purpose Report, contribute 2% of renewable energy sources to power the stores.
Renewable energy in the form of solar power has been a major area of investment for Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s in recent years.
The retailer operates a 250,000-square-foot distribution center in Joplin, Missouri, that features 1,408 solar panels, generating an average of nearly 1,700 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day in 2024.
“This energy output supports the refrigeration needs of the facility, which account for most of its electrical load, reducing the amount of purchased electricity needed from the grid and, ultimately, our Scope 2 GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions,” Casey’s said in its 2024 Sustainability Report.
Forty-five Casey’s stores also participate in community solar gardens, with the retailer committing to purchase solar- and wind-generated energy from the gardens to support 25% to 100% of the energy usage for the participating locations.
In 2023, Casey’s began installing solar panels on its refrigerated trailers. By the end of fiscal 2024, the retailer had completed installations on 82 trailers, with 133 more in the pipeline.
“Solar panels will be standard on all new trailers,” Casey’s said.