SunPower installs solar PV systems at JCPenney stores in New Jersey

Five JCPenney stores in New Jersey now benefit from 2 MW worth of solar power systems featuring SunPower modules installed by the PV company. The initiative is part of the retailer's efforts to deploy 3.7 MW of solar arrays at nine of its stores in New Jersey and California.

The systems on the stores vary in size from 259 to 602 KW; JCPenney says it anticipates that the installations will generate the equivalent of 25% of each New Jersey store's total energy demand. The New Jersey stores with solar by SunPower are located in Deptford, Cherry Hill, East Brunswick, Wayne and Woodbridge, while the California locations hosting PV systems--all in the southern portion of the state--are in El Cajon, Palmdale, Redlands, and Santa Clarita.

Each NJ system is owned and operated by Integrys Energy Services (a wholly owned subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group) under a SunPower Access power purchase agreement.

The retailer purchases electricity from Integrys at rates competitively priced against standard utility rates, safeguarding the company against rising peak power prices. Integrys also owns the renewable energy credits associated with the systems.

SunPower installed its T10 solar roof tiles and high-efficiency solar panels at all of the JCPenney locations in the project. The T10 system (pictured above) tilts at a 10-degree angle to increase energy capture. The durable, nonpenetrating rooftop solution is designed for fast installation on flat rooftops and selected ground sites.

Michael Taxter, JCPenney's executive VP and director, noted that the company "is piloting this project to explore how we can best support the development of clean energy technologies as part of our comprehensive social responsibility program. Each new rooftop solar installation is a step in the right direction for addressing climate change and diversifying the energy supply. New Jersey's progressive efforts to promote renewable energy, combined with SunPower's high-efficiency technology and Integrys' financing, worked together to make this project viable."

Ove the past few years, SunPower has installed megawatts of solar systems on the rooftops of several major retailers' locations, including Macy's, Walmart, and Target.