IKEA installs fourth biogas-powered fuel cell system at its San Diego store

Home furnishings giant IKEA has announced that it has completed installation of its fourth biogas-powered fuel cell system at its San Diego store.

Furthering the Swedish retailer’s investment in fuel cell technology, this project complements the company’s focus on other renewable energies such as solar and wind. IKEA already owns three fuel cell systems at stores in California, with one more planned.

With the San Diego fuel cell system installed, commissioned and operational, IKEA is on track to generate—in total—1.5 MW of energy via fuel cells, supplementing onsite solar arrays atop all these stores.

“Plugging-in this fuel cell system is an exciting milestone that complements our existing rooftop solar array,” said Jim Tilley, store manager. “Utilising fuel cells will reduce our carbon footprint and help create an even more sustainable community here in San Diego.”

Slightly larger than the physical size of a commercial back-up generator, the 200-kw, biogas-powered project will produce approximately 1,665,101 kWh of electricity annually for the store, the equivalent of reducing 877 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂)—equal to the emissions of 185 cars or to providing electricity for 130 homes yearly.

Combined with the 252-kW solar array installed atop the store in 2011, the fuel cell project will help generate a majority of the store’s energy onsite.