Ikea becomes largest solar owner in Texas

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Ikea, which switched on its Portland solar array earlier this year, is now the largest owner of solar installations in Texas. 

Ikea on Monday started up the 813-kilowatt solar energy system at its Houston store.

The 116,400-square-foot photovoltaic array consists of 3,388 panels and will produce approximately 1.15 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of eliminating the emissions of 156 cars or powering 99 homes each year, Ikea said.

Laura Spanjian, sustainability director for the city of Houston, will speak at Ikea’s ceremonial dedication of the system on July 12 at 11:15 a.m. The first 156 shoppers — representing the 156 car emissions the solar panels will offset — during Ikea’s Solar Panel Celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will receive a free Ikea bag.

The solar installation also will be featured in the American Solar Energy Society’s Houston Solar Tour this October.

With the solar energy systems at its Houston, Frisco and Round Rock stores, Ikea is now the largest solar owner in Texas. This is the 19th solar energy project Ikea has completed in the U.S., and it has 20 more under way. With Ikea’s June announcement that it plans to add two more solar energy installations at East Coast locations, 89 percent of U.S. Ikea stores will have solar panels.

From the Houston Business Journal.