Ikea Completes Solar Panel Installation at Memphis Store

September 15, 2016  by Jane Chero in Green, Industry   

Once commissioned, the project will be the largest solar rooftop array in Tennessee, the retailer said.

The store’s 250,675-square-foot solar array consists of a 1.46 megawatt system, built with 4,424 panels that will produce approximately 2 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually for the store.

 The company said it is the equivalent of reducing 1,406 tons of carbon dioxide – equal to the emissions of 297 cars or providing electricity for 205 homes yearly.

“Installing the solar panels is another exciting and sustainable step in the progress towards opening the future Ikea Memphis,” said Trisha Bevering, store manager. “Ikea strives to create a sustainable life for communities where we operate, and Ikea Memphis is adding to this goal with Tennessee’s largest rooftop solar array.”

This array represents the 44^th solar project for Ikea 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 megawatts. Ikea owns and operates each of the solar energy systems atop its buildings, and globally allocated $2.5 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2020, reinforcing its confidence and investment in solar photovoltaic technology.

Consistent with the 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.

Under construction on 35 acres in the Wolfchase Corridor along the southwestern side of Interstate 40 near Germantown Parkway, the 271,000 square-foot Ikea Memphis will include about 800 parking spaces.