Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
Ikea Ireland is investing in the purchase of a new wind farm in Carrickeeny, North-West Leitrim, from global wind and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power.
The electricity generated from the wind farm will be used to supply Ikea’s Dublin and Belfast stores. Construction has begun by Mainstream and the site is expected to be operational in 2014.
The wind farm will have a capacity of 7.65 megawatts and consist of four turbines. It will have an expected annual production of 25GWh, generating the equivalent electricity for approximately 5,500 houses a year.
The Ikea Group will sell electricity generated by the wind farm to Irish energy supply company Vayu, who will supply electricity to the retailer’s Dublin and Belfast stores under a 15-year contract.
Wind energy is a key part of Ikea Group’s sustainability strategy to produce as much renewable energy as it consumes by 2020. To get closer to that goal, the Ikea Group has set aside €1.5bn for investments in renewable energy up to 2015.
The Irish acquisition will increase the total number of wind turbines that the Group has committed to own and operate to 137. The other wind farms are located in the UK, Germany, France, Poland, Denmark and Sweden.
Joanna Yarrow, Head of Sustainability Ikea UK and Ireland said: “Our investments in renewable energy not only help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from our operations in Ireland, but also, together with our energy efficiency efforts, help to control our electricity costs so we can pass any benefits to our customers by continuing to offer high quality home furnishings at low prices.
“Companies, individuals or governments – we all have responsibility to address the resource dilemma and commit to a more sustainable future. Producing our own, affordable, renewable electricity gets us one step closer to becoming completely energy independent by 2020, while ensuring our commercial success.”
IKEA Ireland
