Loblaw Companies Limited is reinforcing its position as a national sustainability leader with the announcement of a groundbreaking clean energy project at its East Gwillimbury Distribution Centre in Ontario. The company is set to install a 7.5 megawatt rooftop solar array—Canada’s largest on a single building—to accelerate progress toward its net-zero emissions target.
Spanning approximately 435,000 square feet—larger than seven football fields—the solar system will generate over 8.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of on-site renewable power each year. That’s enough to cover up to 25% of the distribution centre’s total electricity needs, significantly reducing reliance on grid-based energy and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
“From the moment we began construction on our East Gwillimbury Distribution Centre, we knew we needed to take full advantage of the rooftop space to generate clean, renewable energy for the facility,” said Tom Marson, VP of Building Technology & Energy at Loblaw Companies Limited. “This solar installation will work alongside several other sustainable features at the DC, including fully electric shunt trucks and advanced building energy management systems.”
The project aligns with Loblaw’s broader climate strategy, which includes a commitment to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions across its enterprise footprint by 2040. In 2024 alone, the company reduced its emissions by 16% compared to its 2020 baseline and invested more than $40 million in over 500 carbon reduction initiatives across Canada.
Development and operation of the solar system will once again be led by Great Circle Solar, Loblaw’s long-time partner in distributed energy solutions. The two companies have collaborated since 2012 on over 90 solar and sustainability projects nationwide.
“This marquee project will be operational in 2026. It is by far the largest of its kind ever contracted in Canada and one of the largest on a single rooftop in North America,” said Clarke Herring, President of Great Circle Solar. “Loblaw’s continued leadership and long-term commitment to clean renewable energy is consistent and evident.”
With this latest initiative, Loblaw continues to set the bar for corporate sustainability in Canada’s retail and food sectors, proving that environmental stewardship can align seamlessly with operational excellence.
