International home furnishing retail giant IKEA wants to use only energy generated by renewable sources for its operations and has recently made a move towards meeting this goal with the installation of 30 wind turbines in Härjedalen, Sweden.
Named the Glötesvålen Wind Farm because it is sited over 3,300 feet up on Glötesvålen mountain, construction will begin this summer and is expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2014. Sweden-based O2 Vind AB is the developer and manager of the wind farm and has ordered the 30 turbines needed for the project from Danish manufacturer Vestas. At full capacity it will generate 90-MW of electricity each year, supplying enough power for the needs of 48,000 average-sized homes, and will reduce the company’s CO2 emissions by 176,000 tonnes.
“At IKEA, we want to take a leading role in the transition to a low-carbon society by only using 100 percent renewable energy in our global operations. By only using wind power in Sweden, it is an exciting and important step toward reaching that goal. We will not only be self-sufficient in electricity in Sweden, generating enough to supply all IKEA buildings and operations in the country, but it will give us opportunities to supply IKEA stores in other countries with wind power,” said Steve Howard, Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA Group.
The IKEA Group currently has nine wind turbines already in operation in Sweden and a total of 96 in operation or under construction around the globe. In addition to providing 100 percent of its energy needs in Sweden, once the Glötesvålen Wind Farm project is complete the company expects that its renewable energy investments will be providing between 70-80 percent of its total global needs.
Let’s hope IKEA’s goal of being powered by 100 percent renewables inspires more global brands to add wind power to their energy portfolios.
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