Demand Management, Commercial, Distributed Generation, Finance, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  March 30, 2017

IKEA completes 2nd Ohio rooftop solar project

^{Photo, provided by IKEA, of the company's Columbus, Ohio, store.}

IKEA has completed its previously announced solar panel installation atop its future Columbus, Ohio, store opening Summer 2017, making it one of the largest nonutility solar owners in the state. 

The array is one of the largest solar rooftops in Ohio, similar to the installation at IKEA's Cincinnati-area store, the home furnishings retailer said March 28. 

The Columbus store's 213,000-square-foot solar array will consist of a 1.21 MW system, built with 3,546 panels, and will produce approximately 1,447,700 kWh of electricity annually for the store, the equivalent of reducing 1,017 tons of carbon dioxide, according to EPA conversions. 

IKEA selected REC Solar for the development, design and installation of the solar installation. 

"Completing the solar installation is another exciting and sustainable step in the progress towards opening the future IKEA Columbus," store manager David Garcia said in a news release. "IKEA strives to create a sustainable life for communities where we operate, and IKEA Columbus is adding to this goal with one of Ohio’s largest rooftop solar arrays."

The array represents the Swedish company's 46th 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 agreements. The company has globally allocated $2.5 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2020.  Toward a corporate goal of being 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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