IKEA Norfolk Store to Feature Large Solar Array
The new store will feature a 180,000-square-foot solar array and three EV charging stations.
IKEA recently announced that a store it will open soon in Norfolk, Va., will feature both electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and a 180,000-square-foot solar array -- a 1.26 MW system built with 3,654 panels and producing approximately 1,743,000 kWh of electricity annually for the store.
IKEA selected REC Solar for the development, design, and installation of the solar power system.
The new store will have three Blink® EV charging stations, as IKEA continues its partnership with Blink Charging Co. Currently, 34 IKEA stores in the United States are equipped with Blink EV charging units.
"We are excited to further our sustainability commitment with the installation of the largest solar rooftop array in the area and EV charging stations at our future IKEA Norfolk store," said Lisa Davis, Sustainability Manager at IKEA U.S. "At IKEA, we want to have a positive impact on people and the planet, and these investments support our objectives to reduce our emissions and achieve energy independence by 2020."
The store's solar system is the 56th solar project for IKEA in the United States. The company has solar equipment atop nearly 90 percent of its U.S. locations, with a total generation of more than 56 MW. IKEA owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings and globally has allocated $2.5 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2020. Around the world, IKEA has installed more than 750,000 solar panels on its buildings and owns approximately 440 wind turbines, including 104 in the United States.
The new store will be built on 19 acres on the northwestern corner of Interstate 64 and Northampton Boulevard.