IKEA to install record 990kW rooftop solar system at NSW store

Construction has commenced on what will be the largest single rooftop solar photovoltaic PV project in Australia, with the installation of a 990kWp system at the IKEA Tempe store in New South Wales.

The system, which is being installed by Kingspan Energy, will be the largest of IKEA’s Australian PV projects – comprising nearly 4,000 Yingli polycrystalline modules and 43 inverters from SMA Australia.

It will also be up there with the biggest rooftop solar systems in Australia, including the 1.2MW system at the University of Queensland, which spans four buildings and 11 rooftops, and the Goyder Pavillion in Adelaide, a 1MW system spread over several buildings.

The Swedish furniture giant announced in May its plans to install a combined total of 3.9MW of rooftop solar systems across all of its Australian east coast stores and warehouses, a project that will result in the nation’s largest commercial solar development so far.

All but the Tempe project – which will be the largest single installation – will be developed by Canadian Solar, using their own panels.

As part of IKEA’s company-wide sustainability plan, it has also pledged that all future stores built in Australia would have solar PV systems already installed.

Kingspan Energy says the Tempe project is scheduled to be complete in mid-September and will supply over 1,300,000 kWhrs of electricity to the building.

When commissioning is complete, the 8415 square metre project will displace over 1,500 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.