Ikea increases solar energy use

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Ikea announced that it plans to install solar energy panels on ten additional United States locations. Pending governmental permits, installation can begin this winter, with completion expected in summer 2012, the company said. 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).

Ikea said it will own and operate each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings, 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 Distribution Center in Savannah, Ga. as listed below.

Atlanta, Ga. – opened in 2005; store size: 366,000 sq. ft. on 15 acres

Charlotte, N.C. – opened in 2009; store size: 356,000 sq. ft. on 25 acres

Frisco, Texas – opened in 2005; store size: 310,000 sq. ft. on 28 acres

Houston, Texas – opened: 1992; new store built: 2004; size: 300,000 sq. ft. on 15.6 acres

Orlando, Fla. – opened in 2007; size: 309,000 sq. ft. on 22 acres

Round Rock, Texas – opened in 2006; store size: expanding to 306,000 sq. ft. on 22 acres

Sunrise, Fla. – opened in 2007; size: 293,000 sq. ft. on 20 acres

Tampa, Fla. – opened in 2009; store size: 353,000 sq. ft. on 29 acres

Woodbridge, Va. – opened in 2001; 325,000 sq. ft. on 11.5 acres

Savannah, Ga. Distribution Center – opened in 2007; size: 750,000 sq. ft. on 115 acres

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.”