Client Spotlight: GIANT/Ahold

Supermarket Support Office Offsets 100% of its Electricity Needs by Going Solar

GIANT Food Stores Goes Solar

First opened in 1923 as a meat market, GIANT Food Stores provides dry food and perishable goods to the Mid-Atlantic region. The company consists of supermarkets and superstores, home delivery and fueling stations.

GIANT Food Stores has a focus on sustainability. In 2016, GIANT announced that it would be sustainably sourcing its seafood to help preserve the ocean wildlife. In addition, the company introduced the GIANT Reduced Emissions Program in 2018; each time a customer fills up their car with gas at a GIANT location, part of the money goes to fund environmental research. As a part of its sustainability efforts, GIANT decided to go solar at its Carlisle support office. GIANT installed a 625 kW roof-mounted solar system and is currently constructing a 1,838 kW ground-mounted system.

Solar Photovoltaic System Specifications and Environmental Benefits

Combined, GIANT’s 2.4 MW completed system will be made up of 6,780 individual solar modules and will produce an estimated 3,076,305 kWh of electricity annually. The environmental benefits of this system are equivalent to saving 226,331 gallons of gas or taking 425 cars off the road each year. When fully complete, GIANT’s system will offset 100% of its electricity needs at its Carlisle facility.

Significant Financial Returns Through Solar

Through the Pennsylvania SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates) Program, GIANT receives a certificate for every MWh of solar energy generated. Those certificates can be sold to the market for revenue. PowerFlex’s expertise in optimizing system design and solar project financing made going solar a sound capital investment for GIANT.For more than 10 years, PowerFlex has provided turnkey solar and energy storage solutions to clients such as Amazon, Target, and Bloomberg that help lower energy costs, increase property value and meet sustainability goals. We manage all aspects of the solar project, from development to execution and asset management, and work with real estate owners and tenants to make the process as simple and seamless as possible. Contact us today for a free solar assessment, and see how solar energy can work for your company.