CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — IKEA has announced plans to double the size of the solar array atop its Denver-area store that opened two years ago in Centennial, Colo. Installation of panels on the roof’s remaining space is beginning this month, with completion expected by fall 2013. Already the state’s largest single-use rooftop array on a commercial building, the project will become Colorado’s largest rooftop array of any use.

The 83,700-square-foot solar addition will be a 623-kW system, built with 2,492 panels, and will produce 961,000 kWh of electricity annually for the store. Including the existing system, IKEA Centennial’s total 1,121-kW solar installation of 4,704 panels soon will generate 1,701,000 kWh of clean electricity yearly.

For the development, design, and installation of the Centennial store’s customized solar power system, IKEA contracted with REC Solar Inc., a national leader in solar electric system design and installation with more than 10,000 systems built across the U.S.

IKEA recently achieved its goal of completing solar installations atop nearly 90 percent of its U.S. buildings (39 out of 44 locations), with a generation goal of 38 MW.

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to double the amount of solar energy generated and used by this store,” said John Ellis, IKEA Centennial store manager. “This is another example of the IKEA commitment to create a more sustainable life for communities where we operate.”

The 415,000-square-foot Centennial store opened July 2011 as the first U.S. IKEA store with a geothermal heating and cooling system. With geothermal and doubled solar, the store mostly will be utilizing its own renewable energy.

For more information, visit www.ikea-usa.com.

Publication date: 7/1/2013

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