IKEA announced plans to install solar energy panels on 10 additional US locations—its entire presence in the Southern US.

Pending governmental permits, installation can begin this winter, with completion expected in summer 2012. Collectively, the nine stores and one distribution centre will total 10.7 megawatts (MW) of solar generating capacity, nearly 45,360 solar panels and a projected annual electricity output of 15,248,334 kilowatt hours (kWh).

For its six Florida and Texas stores, IKEA contracted with REC Solar, one of the largest U.S. solar electric providers, with more than 7,000 systems built nationwide.