Amazon uses fulfilment centre rooftops to generate clean energy

Amazon has launched a solar energy initiative which will see the e-commerce company install solar systems on 50 fulfilment facility rooftops worldwide by 2020.
The initial 15 solar projects planned for completion by the end of 2017 will generate up to 41MW of power at Amazon facilities in California, New Jersey, Maryland, Nevada and Delaware. Depending on the specific project, time of year and other factors, the company reports that a solar installation could generate as much as 80 per cent of a single fulfilment facility’s annual energy needs. Solar panels installed on the rooftop of the fulfilment centre in Patterson, California, cover more than three-quarters of the 1.1 million square foot building’s rooftop and will power the hundreds of Amazon Robotics utilised by associates at ground-level.
“As our fulfilment network continues to expand, we want to help generate more renewable energy at both existing and new facilities around the world in partnership with community and business leaders,” said Dave Clark, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations, Amazon. “We are putting our scale and inventive culture to work on sustainability – this is good for the environment, our business and our customers. By diversifying our energy portfolio, we can keep business costs low and pass along further savings to customers. It’s a win-win.”