Ikea installs its 5th photovoltaic production plant in Spain

The Swedish furniture multinational, IKEA, has recently installed its fifth photovoltaic production plant in Spain.

The new facility is situated on the roof of its Jerez store and on its car park canopies. Total investment in the new plant, which features 10,164 solar panels, stands at 4.6 million euros.

The photovoltaic facility at IKEA Jerez joins the list of others that the company has installed at Castilleja de la Cuesta (Seville), A Coruña, Sabadell and at the IKEA Distribution Centre in Valls (Tarragona).

In late 2007, the company launched its “IKEA renewable” which sought to improve energy efficiency in IKEA stores and increase the production of renewable energy. This project has seen an investment of of 7.7 million euros to date, with a saving of 11,795 MWh, reducing the energy bill by 1.8 million euros a year.

As far as the production of renewable energy is concerned, IKEA is committed to on-site production at IKEA stores. Over the past year, IKEA stores have produced 640 MWh of solar thermal and photovoltaic energy. IKEA Jerez is the first commercial project in Spain to install a geothermal facility to heat and cool the building.

All the electricity consumed at IKEA Jerez and in other company stores is from 100% renewable sources and, since 1 January 2010, is certified as such.