IKEA is to become the latest retail giant in America to make more use of its vast area of unused roof space to generate its own renewable energy.
The Swedish furniture specialist has announced plans to install solar panels on eight of its stores in California.
Subject to permits being secured, it is expecting installation to begin later this fall, with 4.5 megawatts of generating capacity put in place by early 2011.
The buildings will represent nearly 90% of the company’s presence in California, hosting nearly 20,000 solar panels to produce about 6.65 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.
The project would produce enough power to supply 580 homes with clean energy, with the environmental benefits equivalent to taking 914 cars off the roads.
Solar systems will be installed at three stores in Northern California – at East Palo Alto, Emeryville and West Sacramento – along with four stores in Southern California – Burbank, Costa Mesa, Covina and San Diego.
IKEA’s 216,000 square foot distribution center in Tejon will also host a solar system that is set to be one of the 10 largest rooftop commercial solar systems in the US, the company said.
Sustainable
Mike Ward, IKEA US president, said the investment was being made to cut the company’s carbon footprint and promote renewable energy.
He said: “This approach is consistent with our commitment to sustainable building practices and we are thrilled that our evaluation determined these projects to be feasible for IKEA. We always are open to ideas for incorporating key environmental technologies and look forward to considering other opportunities as they arise.”
For seven of the stores, IKEA has contracted with Gloria Solar, a subsidiary of the E-Ton Solar Group. For the Tejon distribution center project, REC Solar will provide the solar system set to be the second largest single-roof installation in California.
Both solar companies have offices in California.
IKEA already has solar energy systems operating in Brooklyn, New York, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and in Tempe, Arizona.
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