The 65,000-square-foot array consists of a 573-kW system, built with approximately 2,548 panels. IKEA West Sacramento’s program will produce approximately 795,500 kWh of clean electricity annually – the equivalent of reducing 630 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 109 cars or powering 69 homes yearly.
This investment by IKEA to purchase its own solar photovoltaic energy system and to install and operate it atop the West Sacramento store will lower the carbon intensity of the electrical grid, and represents the eighth completed solar energy project for IKEA in the United States.
There also currently are plans underway to install systems at four other IKEA locations in California as well as eight more in the Eastern U.S.
For the development, design and installation of this customized solar power system, IKEA contracted with Gloria Solar, the U.S. operating group focused on the photovoltaic business within the family of E-Ton Solar Group.
This project is the third IKEA installation in the 70,000-square-mile service area of PG&E, the utility providing natural gas and electric service to approximately 15 million people throughout northern and central California.
“We at IKEA believe in the never-ending job of striving to improve the sustainability of our day-to-day business,” said Heine Roikjer, IKEA West Sacramento store manager.
“The IKEA coworkers in West Sacramento are excited to help contribute to this goal with our newly operational solar energy system. We appreciate the support of the City of West Sacramento, PG&E and Gloria Solar, our partners in this project.”
IKEA, drawing from its Swedish heritage and respect of nature, believes it can be a good business while doing good business and strives for its operations to minimize impacts on the environment.
Located on 21 acres at I-80 and Reed Avenue, the 265,000-s.f. IKEA West Sacramento opened March 2006 and employs approximately 250 coworkers.
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IKEA is known for its showrooms. But now, the home furnishing giant hopes it will also become known for its roof. The Sweden-based company recently flipped the switch on a solar energy system installed on the roof of its southwestern U.S. distribution center in Tejon, Calif.