Commercial, Distributed Energy Resources, Commercial, Distributed Generation, Sourcing Renewables  -  May 13, 2016

IKEA to install largest rooftop solar system in Tennessee at new Memphis store

Already a corporate leader in solar adoption, IKEA announced May 12 that its new store opening in Memphis later this year will be topped with a system that is expected to be the largest rooftop solar array in Tennessee.

The store’s 250,675-square-foot solar array will consist of a 1.46 MW system, built with 4,424 panels, and will produce approximately 2,000,000 kWh of electricity annually for the store, which IKEA said in a news release is the equivalent of reducing 1,406 tons of carbon dioxide per year. 

Tennessee, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, installed 129 MW of solar in 2015, ranking it 20th in the country by installed capacity. 

IKEA selected Atlanta-based Hanna Solar for the development, design and installation of the customized solar power system. 

"We are excited about furthering our sustainability commitment with solar panels on the future Memphis store," IKEA U.S. president Lars Petersson said in the company's news release. "At IKEA, we have a mission to create a better everyday life for the many, and IKEA Memphis can add to this goal with Tennessee’s largest rooftop solar array." 

The Memphis installation will mark IKEA's 44th solar project in the U.S., contributing to the IKEA solar presence atop nearly 90% of its U.S. locations, with a total generation goal of more than 40 MW. IKEA owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings — as opposed to a solar lease or power purchase agreement — and  has allocated $2.5 billion globally to invest in renewable energy through 2020.

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