IKEA to Increase Investment in Fuel Cells with Plans for Systems to Generate Renewable Energy at Four More California Stores
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced it
is furthering its renewable commitment with plans for biogas-powered
fuel cell systems at four more of its California stores. A year ago,
IKEA completed installation of such a project at IKEA Emeryville, one of
the Swedish company’s two San Francisco-area stores. IKEA now plans to
expand its fuel cell portfolio to 1.3 MW with a system at its other San
Francisco-area store (in East Palo Alto), as well as three stores in
Southern California (Costa Mesa, Covina and San Diego). Pending permits,
the fuel cells will be installed, commissioned and operational by this
Fall, 2016, complementing solar arrays already atop each of the four
stores.
“Based on the success of the system installed last year in Emeryville,
we are excited about further increasing our renewable portfolio with
four more fuel cell projects,” explained IKEA U.S. president Lars
Petersson. “Fuel cells represent another way we can contribute to our
goal of generating renewable energy equal to the amount of power we
consume worldwide.”
For the design, development and installation of these planned fuel cell
systems, IKEA contracted with Sunnyvale-based Bloom Energy a provider of
breakthrough solid oxide fuel cell technology generating clean,
highly-efficient on-site power.
-
Costa Mesa store – opened in 2003; store size: 308,000 SF on 24
acres
FUEL CELL PROGRAM: 300 kW
generating 2,497,651 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,315
tons of CO2, 278 cars’ emissions or powering
194 homes
-
Covina store – opened in 2003; store size: 325,000 SF on 12.5
acres
FUEL CELL PROGRAM: 200 kW
generating 1,665,101 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 877 tons
of CO2, 185 cars’ emissions or powering 130
homes
-
East Palo Alto store – opened in 2003; store size: 290,000 SF
on 10.5 acres
FUEL CELL PROGRAM: 300
kW generating 2,497,651 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,315
tons of CO2, 278 cars’ emissions or powering
194 homes
-
San Diego store – opened in 2000; store size: 198,000 SF on 10
acres
FUEL CELL PROGRAM: 200 kW
generating 1,665,101 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 877 tons
of CO2, 185 cars’ emissions or powering 130
homes
Drawing from its Swedish heritage and respect of nature, IKEA strives to
minimize its operations’ carbon emissions because reducing its
environmental impact makes good business sense. IKEA evaluates locations
for conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into
product design, works to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs
goods for efficient distribution. U.S. sustainable efforts include:
recycling waste material; incorporating key measures into buildings with
energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction
materials, warehouse skylights, and water-conserving restrooms; and
operationally, no plastic bags in the check-out process, and selling
only LED bulbs/fixtures. IKEA U.S. has installed electric vehicle
charging stations at 14 locations and solar arrays at 90% of its
locations, integrated two geothermal projects at two store locations and
owns two wind farms.
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of
good design and function at affordable prices. There are currently more
than 380 IKEA stores in 48 countries, including 42 in the U.S. IKEA has
been ranked among “Best Companies to Work For” and, as further
investment in its coworkers, has raised its own minimum wage twice in
two years. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and
supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more
information see IKEA-USA.com,
@IKEAUSANews,
@IKEAUSA
or IKEAUSA on Facebook,
YouTube,
Instagram
and Pinterest.
Contacts
IKEA
Joseph Roth, U.S. Public Affairs
(610)
834-0180, ext. 6500