Sandvika, Norway—The world’s leading home furnishings retailer, Sweden-based IKEA, has selected REC Systems and REC solar modules for the installation of PV systems on store locations in Germany and the U.S.
Sandvika, Norway—The world’s leading home furnishings retailer, Sweden-based IKEA, has selected REC Systems and REC solar modules for the installation of PV systems on store locations in Germany and the U.S.
In competition with more than 200 other solar system providers, REC Systems Germany GmbH was selected to provide systems solution for two installations in Germany. One installation, which will produce 449,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) on the rooftop of a store in Regensburg, Germany, was connected to the grid at the end of September. The 430kW installation will offset 398 tons of CO2 per year. A second rooftop installation producing 149,000 kWh was installed on a store in Freiburg, Germany, and connected to the grid in December. The 150 kilowatt installation will offset 132 tons of CO2 per year.
“We will use the solar power produced for our lighting department, and furniture exhibition, as well as for the customer restaurant,” says Michael Armin, head of expansion for IKEA Germany. Building on the success of earlier joint projects, Goldbeck Solar, a large construction company focusing on industrial rooftop and ground mounted PV installations, partnered with REC as subcontractor on the German IKEA projects.
Currently, REC is also providing modules for three projects for IKEA in the U.S: two stores on the East Coast, and a Southern California distribution center that will be the second largest single-roof commercial system in the state. A Colorado site was also recently announced.
IKEA is committed to sustainable building practices that have a limited impact on the environment and is using solar to reduce their carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency. TIME magazine listed IKEA as one of the top eight most global eco-conscious companies.