IKEA Solar Panel Installation Planned for Ten More Stores

IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, is to  install solar energy panels on ten additional United States locations — its  entire presence in the Southern U.S. Pending governmental permits, installation  can begin this winter, with completion expected in Summer 2012.

Collectively,  the nine stores and one distribution center will total 10.7 Megawatts (MW) of  solar generating capacity, nearly 45,360 panels, and a projected annual  electricity output of 15,248,334 kilowatt hours (kWh).

This investment in IKEA Solar reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to  sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic (PV) technology. IKEA solar will own and  operate each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings — as opposed to  a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) — now including its three Texas  stores (Frisco, Houston and Round Rock), three Florida stores (Orlando, Sunrise  and Tampa), three other stores (Atlanta and Charlotte, and in Woodbridge, VA),  and the IKEA solar Distribution Center in Savannah, GA.

IKEA already has 12 U.S. solar energy systems operational with 11 more underway.  Adding solar to ten more locations increases the company’s solar presence to 75%  of its U.S. locations and a total solar generating capacity of approximately  26.8 MW. “IKEA believes we can be a good business while doing good business,”  said Mike Ward, IKEA U.S. president. “This investment extends our solar presence  to the Southern U.S., further reducing our carbon footprint and the intensity of  the electrical grid.”

by Solarbuzz

The Author

I took an interest in the Australian energy sector close to ten years ago and since then have monitored the trends, technologies and direction of the Australian Energy Market. I was drawn to the Australian solar market in 2008 and since then have worked heavily in the field. I am partnered with national and international solar energy companies, from manufacturers of solar panel and inverter technology, online software developers that introduce tools to quote, monitor and manage solar power systems and media organisations who like myself, closely monitor the solar and renewable energy sector.