Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Solar  -  January 24, 2019

IKEA to open in VA with solar and EV

IKEA announced that its future Norfolk, Virginia store will be equipped with solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations when it opens this spring. This installation will represent the 56th solar project for IKEA in the U.S. and will contribute to the company’s solar presence atop nearly 90% of its U.S. locations, with a total generation of more than 56 MW.

The 331,000-square-foot store will be topped with a 180,000-square-foot solar array, consisting of a 1.26 MW system, built with 3,654 panels, and produce approximately 1,743,000 kWh of electricity annually for the store, the equivalent of reducing 1,233 metric tons of CO2, equal to the emissions of 262 cars or providing electricity for 215 homes yearly. REC Solar will develop, design, and install the new store’s solar power system.

The Norfolk location will also feature three Blink® electric vehicle charging stations, continuing the partnership between IKEA and Blink Charging Co. There are currently Blink EV charging units at 34 IKEA stores in the U.S.

“We are excited to further our sustainability commitment with the installation of the largest solar rooftop array in the area and EV charging stations at our future IKEA Norfolk store,” said Lisa Davis, Sustainability Manager, IKEA U.S., in a statement. “At IKEA, we want to have a positive impact on people and the planet, and these investments support our objectives to reduce our emissions and achieve energy independence by 2020.”

The statement noted that IKEA owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings – as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) – and globally has allocated $2.5 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2020. Consistent with the goal of being energy independent by 2020, IKEA has installed more than 750,000 solar panels on buildings across the world and owns approximately 441 wind turbines, including 104 in the U.S.

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