Ikea to Grow Solar Presence to 75 Percent of U.S. Store Base

December 8, 2011

Ikea says it plans to install solar energy panels on 10 additional United States locations – its entire presence in the Southern U.S.

I Ikea store image kea already has 12 U.S. solar energy systems operational with 11 more underway. Adding solar to 10 more locations increases the company’s solar presence to 75 percent of its U.S. locations and a total solar generating capacity of approximately 26.8 megawatts (MW).

“Ikea believes we can be a good business while doing good business,” said Mike Ward, Ikea U.S. president, which includes 38 stores. “This investment extends our solar presence to the Southern U.S., further reducing our carbon footprint and the intensity of the electrical grid.”

Pending governmental permits, the 10 new installations can begin this winter, with completion expected by the summer of 2012. Collectively, the nine stores and one distribution center will total 10.7 MW of solar generating capacity, nearly 45,360 panels, and a projected annual electricity output of 15,248,334 kilowatt hours kWh.

Ikea will own and operate each of its solar energy systems atop its buildings, as opposed to solar leases or power purchase agreements.

EV Charging Stations
In other Ikea news, the home furnishings retailer also plugged-in four more Blink Pedestal electric vehicle (EV) charging stations this week at its Costa Mesa, Calif., store as part of its partnership with ECOtality Inc.

This initiative is the fourth such project for Ikea in the United States, with another five installations planned at Ikea stores in the western part of the country.

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Keywords: electric vehicle charging stations, solar power

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