IKEA announced that the solar panel installation is complete atop its future Grand Prairie, Texas, store opening late Fall 2017 as the company’s second Dallas-Fort Worth-area store. The array is the fourth IKEA solar array in the State of Texas. The Grand Prairie store’s 181,500-square-foot solar array consists of a 1.25-MW system, built with 2,800 large format panels that will produce approximately 2,000,000 kWh of electricity annually for the store.

For the development, design and installation of the new store’s solar power system, IKEA selected SunPower. MYCON Construction is building the store that reflects the same unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide.

“Completing the solar installation is another exciting and sustainable step in the progress towards opening the future IKEA Grand Prairie,” said Matt Hunsicker, store manager. “IKEA strives to create a sustainable life for communities where we operate, and IKEA Grand Prairie is adding to this goal with our fourth rooftop solar array in Texas.”

This array represents the 47th solar project for IKEA in the United States, contributing to the IKEA solar presence atop more than 90% of its U.S. locations, with a total generation goal of more than 44 MW. IKEA owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings – as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) – and globally allocated $2.5 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2020, reinforcing its confidence and investment in solar photovoltaic technology. Consistent with the goal of being energy independent by 2020, IKEA has installed more than 700,000 solar panels on buildings across the world and owns approximately 300 wind turbines, including 104 in the U.S.

The 290,000-square-foot future IKEA Grand Prairie and its 1,100 parking spaces is being built on 30 acres along the eastern side of State Highway 161 and Mayfield Road, north of Interstate-20. Until IKEA Grand Prairie opens as the state’s fourth store, customers can shop at Collin County’s IKEA Frisco or online at IKEA-USA.com. Other Texas IKEA stores are in Houston and Round Rock, with a San Antonio-area one planned to open Summer 2019 in Live Oak, and a Fort Worth store to open as the third DFW-area location, also in Summer 2019.