Commercial, Distributed Energy Resources, Commercial, Solar  -  November 16, 2016

New IKEA store features solar, EV charging

^{Photo of EV charging stations at IKEA's Memphis, Tenn., store courtesy of IKEA.} 

As electric vehicle penetration continues to accelerate in the U.S., IKEA on Nov. 16 announced plans to install three EV charging stations at its Memphis, Tenn., store set to open next month. 

The Swedish home furnishing company's new store will also feature a 1.46-MW rooftop solar system, which is Tennessee's largest rooftop system to-date. 

"Installing EV charging stations at the future IKEA Memphis reinforces our commitment to sustainability," store manager Trisha Bevering said in IKEA's news release. "As a retailer, IKEA realizes a focus on sustainable transport of people can help empower customers to live sustainably. So, meeting the needs of EV drivers helps achieve both goals."

The EV charging-plus-solar feature of the Memphis store follows a model used at a new IKEA store in Las Vegas that opened in May. The Blink brand station installations at both stores reflect IKEA's partnership with Car Charging Group Inc., which owns the Blink Network and Blink EV charging stations. 

IKEA has big sustainability goals that include its use of renewable energy: The company is aiming to be energy independent by 2020. IKEA has installed more than 700,000 solar panels on buildings across the world and owns approximately 300 wind turbines, including 104 in the U.S. 

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