The renewable energy movement still has a ways to go to meet the ambitious climate goals set by the Biden Administration. But we celebrate victories where we can.
The United States is currently the second largest producer of solar energy in the world, behind only China. As of the end of 2021, the US had generated 95,209 megawatts (MW) of solar energy – enough to power 18 million households.1
We have American companies to thank for much of this progress. We know EcoWatch doesn’t usually applaud big corporations for helping the planet. We are not saying that their adoption of solar energy also erases their climate violations.
But we still celebrate victories where we can. And American companies are installing a record number of solar installations to power their operations. According to the Solar Means Business 2022 Report, these corporations currently account for 14% of all installed solar capacity in the United States – a total of more than 19 gigawatts (or 19,000 MW).
Without further ado, here are the top 10 corporate solar adopters of 2022:
Meta: 3,588 MWAmazon: 1,115 MWApple: 987 MWWalmart: 689 MWMicrosoft: 551 MWTarget: 515 MWCargill: 342 MWKaiser Permanente: 303 MWAnheuser-Busch: 301 MW Evraz North America: 300 MW
1. Meta Platforms Inc.
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Headquarters: Menlo Park, California
Meta is a leading corporate supporter of the solar world. As of June 2022, the company has installed more than 3,588 MW of solar power, or about 3.59 GW. That’s three times more solar power than the next closest company, Amazon.
If you’re not familiar, Meta is the company formerly known as Facebook, Inc. The multinational technology company owns most of your favorite phone apps like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, along with a host of other products and services.
2. Amazon
Headquarters: Seattle, WA
More than 2,400 megawatts behind Meta, Jeff Bezos’ empire ranks second in terms of Amazon solar installations. The rooftop solar power is part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge plan to become carbon neutral by 2040.
In addition to solar power, Amazon has set a goal of 100,000 electric trucks and plans to source 80% of its energy consumption from renewable sources within five years and to go net-zero by 2030.3
3. Apple
Headquarters: Cupertino, California
The two-time former solar champion has fallen down the ranks this year due to bigger pushes from Amazon and Meta, but Apple is still among the top three corporate solar adopters for 2022 with 987 MW installed.
Although we expect Apple to rise again in the coming years. Earlier this year, 213 of the company’s key manufacturing partners pledged to supply all Apple production in 25 countries with renewable electricity. Like Amazon, Apple aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. 4
4. Walmart
Headquarters: Bentonville, AR
At 689 MW, retail megastore Walmart produces the most energy of any non-tech company. In 2019, Walmart actually increased its use of solar by 35% – more than any other US company.
In addition to solar energy, Walmart is also a big investor in wind energy, acquiring the most wind energy of any company in the United States in 2019. The big-box retailer also has a goal of being powered by 100% renewable energy by 2035.5
5. Microsoft
Headquarters: Redmond, VA
Microsoft doesn’t have as much solar power as its big rival, Apple, but 551 MW is enough to put it in fifth place.
The tech company announced a partnership with Volt Energy in 2021 to reach its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2025.6 Microsoft has a large solar installation on its Silicon Valley campus, allowing the company to save more than $100,000 a year on electricity. gives 7
6. Target
Headquarters: Minneapolis, MN
With 515 MW of solar installed, another big retailer is just behind Microsoft: Target.
In 2020, Target reached its goal of adding rooftop solar panels to 500 locations over five years. The retailer is more than a quarter of the way to its goal of sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
7. Cargill
Headquarters: Wayzata, MN
This is probably the first company on the list that you don’t immediately recognize. Agricultural giant Cargill, Incorporated is a privately held American global food corporation that delivers food, agricultural, financial and industrial products to people in need around the world.
Cargill has installed 342 MW of solar power by June 2022, helping it move toward its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2025.9
8. Kaiser Permanente
Headquarters: Oakland, CA
Healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente installed a massive 2.3 MW of solar panels at its Sacramento facility in 2020, the largest of the company’s 41 solar projects. As of mid-2022, Kaiser Permanente currently has 303 MW of solar capacity.
In addition to installing solar panels, Kaiser Permanente has taken other steps to support solar energy, including a $150,000 grant to GRID Alternatives.10
9. Anheuser-Busch
Headquarters: St. Louis, MO
One of America’s favorite brewing companies has already reached its goal of getting 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025 – thanks in part to its 301 MW solar installation.11
Anheuser-Busch has a 222 MW solar farm in Texas, as well as a 152 MW wind farm in Oklahoma.
10. Eurasian North America
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Behind Kaiser Permanente and Anhuser-Busch is Evraz North America, which has installed 300 MW of solar capacity. Evraz is a leading manufacturer of engineered steel products for the rail, energy and industrial markets.
Although Evraz has just dropped into the top 10 list, we expect this company to rise in the ranks after the construction of a 300 MW solar farm in Colorado is completed.12
Top 25 Corporate Solar Applications
Corporate Solar adoption continues to grow
Commercial companies have installed about 19 GW of solar in the US by June 2022, but half of that has been installed since 2020 alone.
Much of this recent growth can be attributed to the rapid expansion of foreign corporate solar purchases, which now account for 55% of all commercial solar use. Over the past 2.5 years, almost 70% of all corporate solar power has been brought online.13
Credit: Solar Energy Industries Association
With more solar projects in the works and the company’s climate goals with deadlines between 2025 and 2050, we can expect those numbers to continue to grow. SEIA estimates that total commercial solar installations will double again over the next three years, with about 27 GW of offsite projects involving corporate layoffs by 2025.14