Ikea Rolls Out Solar Panels to Midwest Stores

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January 12, 2012

Home furnishings retailer Ikea plans to install solar energy panels on five more U.S. stores, all of them in the Midwest.

Implementation of these projects will extend Ikea’s solar presence to nearly 85 percent of its U.S. locations. Pending governmental permits, installation can begin this winter and completion is expected next summer.

Collectively, the five stores will total 4.8 megawatts of solar generating capacity, approximately 20,400 panels, and an annual output of 5.62 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, the company reported.

The retailer will own and operate each of its solar energy systems atop its buildings, as opposed to a solar lease or power purchase agreement. The stores receiving the installations are in Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Ikea currently has 12 U.S. solar energy systems operational with 20 more underway. Once the five new stores are converted, Ikea’s total solar generating capacity will be 31.6 megawatts in the United States.

“We are pleased that solar energy systems already have proven successful at Ikea locations and are thrilled we now can complete the solar coverage of all our Midwestern stores,” said Mike Ward, president Ikea U.S. “With only 44 locations nationwide, we try to contribute whenever and wherever possible to creating a better everyday life for the many. So – from a sustainability perspective – we are open to ideas for incorporating key environmental technologies and look forward to considering other opportunities as they arise, too.”

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