Greentech Lead U.S: IKEA announced the plug-in of the
solar energy system installed at its Central Texas store in Round Rock.
The solar energy system will be the largest of all IKEA
solar installations atop U.S. stores and, when combined with IKEA projects atop
stores in Houston and Dallas-area Frisco, will make IKEA the state’s largest
solar owner, the company said.
IKEA contracted with REC Solar for the development, design
and installation of the Round Rock store’s customized solar power system. REC
Solar provides solar electric system design and installation with more than
8,000 systems built across the U.S.
The 273,700-square-foot PV array consists of a 1,633-kW
system, built with 6,664 panels. IKEA Round Rock’s program will produce
approximately 2,398,500 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of
reducing 1,822 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 324
cars or powering 206 homes yearly.
This installation represents the 33rd completed
solar project for IKEA in the U.S. 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 590 million euro to invest in
renewable energy, focusing on solar and wind during the coming three years.
This investment reinforces the long-term commitment of
IKEA to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic (PV) technology. More
than 250,000 solar panels have been installed on IKEA stores and buildings
across the world. The company also owns and/or operates approximately 110 wind
turbines in Europe.
“We at IKEA believe in the never-ending job of improving
the sustainability of our day-to-day business,” said Gerd Diewald, store
manager. “The Round Rock coworkers are excited to help contribute to this goal
with our newly operational solar energy system.”
IKEA powers-up three solar energy systems in Philadelphia
In August IKEA plugged-in solar energy systems installed
at its two Philadelphia-area stores (in Conshohocken and South Philadelphia)
and atop its U.S. Service Office in Conshohocken.
editor@greentechlead.com