Toys "R" Us Goes Solar

Toys “R” Us Inc. (Wayne, N.J.) plans to add the largest rooftop solar power installation in North America to its distribution center in Flanders, N.J. Staging for the system is currently underway and construction will conclude this summer. The 5.38 megawatt on-site solar mechanism will occupy 869,294 square feet and is estimated to generate 72 percent of the electrical needs for the Toys “R” Us facility.

“The unprecedented scope of this project furthers our already strong commitment to sustainability in our operations,” says chairman and ceo Jerry Storch.

This solar power installation will cover nearly 70 percent of the distribution center's roof and will consist of more than 37,000 ultra lightweight Uni-Solar brand photovoltaic solar panels, manufactured by United Solar. Constellation Energy, a supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services, will build, own and maintain the rooftop solar power system, while Toys “R” Us will purchase the electricity generated by the system from Constellation Energy through a 20-year power purchase agreement.

The Flanders facility is the largest of the toy retailer’s 10 national distribution centers and covers over 1.5 million square feet. The company added a rooftop solar power system at the Babies “R” Us in North Brunswick, N.J., and will complete another rooftop system at the “R” Superstore in Secaucus, N.J.