Giant Roofs on Big-Box Stores, Warehouses Still Have Unmet Solar Potential
Large US companies such as Prologis and Home Depot are putting more solar systems on top of their buildings, but off-site investment still dominates.
Prologis’ Park iPort 2 in Carteret, New Jersey, has an expansive solar array on its roof.
Photo: Prologis Inc.
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For Prologis Inc., the global industrial REIT, space for storing goods is a key asset. But the huge, flat roofs atop the company’s warehouses are another significant asset, argues Chief Energy and Sustainability Officer Susan Uthayakumar.
With a long-term plan to plaster roofs with solar panels, Prologis views on-site renewable power — and the reliable costs and resiliency it can provide — as a selling point for tenants. “We do this to future-proof our buildings,” Uthayakumar said.