Solnet Group organized the tenth Solnet Executive Breakfast event in March 2024. The event has become very popular for our customers and potential ones to share experiences about solar energy and learn from other companies. Ann-Christin Pilviö, IKEA's Business Development Director, spoke at this event.
At the event, Ann-Christin discussed IKEA's sustainability strategy and the role of solar energy within it. Renewable energy plays a significant role in IKEA's sustainability strategy to meet their sustainability goals, and the investments are substantial. IKEA's values of "Caring for the planet and people" are evident in its sustainability measures. IKEA has identified three global challenges it aims to address through its sustainability efforts: climate change, unsustainable consumption, and inequality. Sustainability for IKEA means creating healthy and responsible living opportunities, promoting circular economy, climate positivity, and advancing equality and fairness.
One of IKEA's sustainability goals is to enable over one billion people to live within the planet's resources by 2030. IKEA also increasingly utilizes recycled materials in its furniture. IKEA also invests in sustainability in its transportation, with 60% of IKEA's "last mile" deliveries to customers being made with emission-free electric vehicles. The company also has clear measures for waste recycling, including recycling all food waste into bio gas.
Renewable energy as part of sustainability
Regarding renewable energy, IKEA aims to be energy-positive by 2030 and to use 100% renewable electricity by 2025. Solar energy also plays a significant role in IKEA's renewable energy production, with 80% of IKEA stores already equipped with solar panels. These panels produce 20% of IKEA's energy consumption. IKEA also owns 21 solar parks, with their energy production used in their stores. "Sustainability, including solar energy, is very important to us; for example, solar panels must be responsibly manufactured," said Ann-Christin Pilviö, IKEA's Business Director, at Solnet's breakfast event.
Thanks to the solar power plant in Tampere, the store has achieved a BREEAM certification. The next project at Lommila MCDC will generate 32% of the electricity needed for the store.
"Safety is also important to IKEA, and we are pleased to be IKEA's trusted sustainability partner for solar energy with our smart solar power solutions," says Veli-Matti Heimonen, COO, Solnet Group.
Continuing with a reliable partner
In selecting a solar energy supplier, IKEA emphasized that the project must be a turnkey solution and include smart solar panels from a reliable service provider. The project has to also have also a return on investment of less than 10 years. The provider needs to be able to offer also maintenance services. The solution must be easily expandable or there has to be a possibility to add additional features as needed. Solnet Group’s solution met all the requirements.
"Solnet Group offers a solution that was superior to us from the beginning, as it includes smart solar panels providing additional security. They also offer maintenance services which were not available from others. After the first installations, we also found it beneficial to continue with the same reliable service provider," said Ann-Christin Pilviö.
Solnet Group has already delivered solar power plants to four IKEA stores. Solnet Group also takes care of the maintenance of these solar power plants. In addition to the store roofs, solar panels have been installed on the car canopy of one of the stores and onsite of one store.
"Installing onsite or near-site solar power is an easy way for us to increase our energy self-sufficiency. Maintenance services from Solnet Group make sure that the solution is also carefree for us," says Janne Ellonen, District FM Manager at IKEA.
