Home furnishings giant prepares for another solar project

Ikea’s next solar-powered store is in the works.



The home furnishings giant’s future Jacksonville, Florida store, slated to open in the fall, will be the newest location to feature a solar power system. Panel installation will begin this summer, and is expected to be complete by early fall. This will be Ikea’s fifth solar array in the state of Florida, according to the retailer.



The Jacksonville store’s 251,206-sq.-ft. solar array will consist of a 1.89 MW system, built with 5,472 panels. It will produce approximately 2,753,070 kWh of electricity annually for the store, the equivalent of reducing 2,133 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).



REC Solar is developing, designing and installing the new store’s solar power system. Marcobay Construction is building the store.



“We are excited about furthering our sustainability commitment and contributing to a low-carbon society with solar atop our future Jacksonville store,” said Lars Petersson, Ikea U.S. president. “We have a mission to create a better everyday life for the many, and Ikea Jacksonville can add to this goal and keep us Florida’s largest non-utility private solar owner.”



This installation will represent the 49th solar project for Ikea in the United States, giving the retailer solar presence atop nearly 90% of its U.S. stores. Consistent with the goal of being energy independent by 2020, the chain has installed more than 700,000 solar panels on buildings across the world, and owns approximately 300 wind turbines, including 104 in the United States.