A new Wall Street Journal report spotlights the vast opportunity presented by America’s underused warehouse rooftops. With electricity demand surging due to rising temperatures and expanding data centers, harnessing solar on these rooftops offers an efficient solution. SolarEdge has partnered with Solar Landscape to deploy 630 megawatts of solar capacity across more than 500 warehouse rooftops—marking the largest U.S. rooftop solar initiative to date. Analysts estimate that this untapped space could generate 185.6 terawatt-hours annually, accounting for 16% of U.S. household electricity demand.
Utilizing rooftops reduces “not in my backyard” opposition, leverages existing infrastructure, and lowers start-up costs. Distributed solar generation also enhances grid stability by producing energy closer to points of use. However, the outlook hinges on policy support: tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act are set to expire soon, and shifting trade measures could affect supply chains. Despite these uncertainties, solar remains economically viable. Rooftop installations can enhance building income—boosting net operating revenue by 3% to 5%, while reinforcing sustainability and resilience.
Source: Wall Street Journal – “America Needs More Power. Its Warehouse Rooftops Could Provide the Solution.”