IKEA Goes Solar

Global furnishings mega-retailer IKEA is in the process of installing solar energy panels on the rooftops of 10 of its southern-based United States stores, including the location at Atlantic Station.

The company expects significant energy to be conserved, which in turn will result in cost savings.

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).

The expected 1,421,300 kWh/year generated by Atlanta’s system will be the equivalent to reducing 1,080 tons of CO2, eliminating 192 cars from the road or powering 122 homes.

Adding solar to the new locations increases the company’s solar presence to 75-percent of its 44 U.S. buildings (13 are already operational) 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, in a press release. “This investment extends our solar presence to the Southern U.S., further reducing our carbon footprint and the intensity of the electrical grid.”

The technology is photovoltaic, but the actual panels are specifically polycrystalline modules. The company expects the project to be completed and operational by early summer. For more information, see here.