Ikea to put 1.2-MW solar array on roof of new Florida store

Nov 13, 2013 - Swedish furniture retailer Ikea said today it would install a 1.18-MW solar system on the roof of its new Miami-Dade-area store in Florida whose official opening is planned for next summer.

This is the company’s 40th solar project in the US. Its aim is to have solar systems at nearly 90% of its US sites.

As soon as Ikea receives the necessary permits it will commence solar panel installation, possibly in several months. US solar systems specialist REC Solar Inc will take care of the development, design and installations of the solar system that is to include 4,620 panels. The project is to be completed before the grand opening of the Sweetwater store.

Once online, the rooftop photovoltaic (PV) array will generate some 1.74 million kWh per year, while avoiding 1,227 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, Ikea calculates.

The Swedish company, which aims to be energy independent by the end of the decade, will pour USD 1.8 billion (EUR 1.34bn) in funds into renewable energy capacity by the end of 2015. So far, Ikea has installed over 250,000 solar panels on its buildings globally and owns and runs 110 wind turbines in Europe.

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