IKEA Canada to generate more than double its own total energy
consumption

BURLINGTON, ON, Nov. 14, 2013 /CNW/ – IKEA Canada announced today that
they have purchased a 46 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Pincher Creek,
Alberta. The 20-turbine wind farm will be the largest owned by a
Canadian retailer and is expected to generate 161 gigawatt hours (GWh)
each year, which is more than double the total energy consumption of
IKEA Canada. The project is currently being constructed by global wind
and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power and is expected to be
fully operational in the autumn of 2014.

“IKEA Canada’s investment in renewable energy is a win-win-win. We are
able to support the transition to a low-carbon future, reduce our
energy and operating costs, and pass those benefits on to our customers
by continuing to offer high quality home furnishings at low prices,”
says Kerri Molinaro, President of IKEA Canada. “This wind farm in
Alberta, along with existing solar installations at three of our
Ontario stores, is a significant step to achieving IKEA’s global
ambition to be energy independent by 2020, producing more renewable
energy than we consume.”

The wind farm’s expected annual production of 161 GWh is equivalent to:

• 32 IKEA stores’ electricity consumption
• 60 per cent of IKEA Group electricity consumption in North America
• Eight per cent of IKEA Group electricity consumption worldwide
• 13,500 average Canadian households’ electricity consumption

“The development of renewable energy has been and will continue to be
important to a sustainable future for Alberta,” said the Honourable Ken
Hughes, Minister of Energy, Alberta. “IKEA Canada is demonstrating a
long-term commitment to both the province and our energy footprint with
the development of this important project.”

The 20 turbines to be erected are Siemens’ model SWT-2.3-101, 2.3 MW
turbines with a rotor diameter of 101 metres, a hub height of 80 metres
and blade length of 49 metres. While the wind farm will be owned fully
by IKEA Canada it has been developed, is being constructed, and will be
operated by Mainstream Renewable Power. The turbines will be located in
the municipality of Pincher Creek, approximately 215 KMs south of
Calgary. The power generated will be delivered onto Alberta’s energy
grid, thereby increasing the availability of renewable energy to a
growing energy market.

Mainstream Renewable Power’s Chief Executive Eddie O’Connor said,
“Mainstream Renewable Power is pleased to be building on our existing
global relationship with IKEA. Partnering with corporations who are
committed to a sustainable future is a very exciting and growing part
of Mainstream’s global business. This project is a significant
investment in Alberta’s renewable energy future.”

The IKEA Group has now committed to own 157 wind turbines worldwide and
has installed over 500,000 solar panels on its buildings in nine
countries. To date, the company has invested in wind farms in seven
other IKEA markets: Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Poland, the
United Kingdom, and Ireland.

About IKEA Group
The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people.
Our business idea supports this vision by offering a wide range of
well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low
that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. There are
currently 298 IKEA Group stores in 26 countries. IKEA was founded in
Sweden in 1943. The IKEA Group employs 139 000 co-workers and had 690
million visitors during FY12. For more information, please visit www.IKEA.com

About Mainstream Renewable Power
Mainstream Renewable Power is one of the world’s leading independent
developers of renewable energy projects. With a development pipeline of
over 19GW globally it is currently constructing solar and wind farms
across Ireland, South Africa, Chile and Canada. As Europe’s leading
independent offshore wind developer Mainstream is developing just under
8GW of offshore wind projects in England, Scotland and Germany with
4.45GW of secured grid connection for these offshore projects. It
employs more than 160 experienced staff across four continents with
offices in Berlin, Cape Town, Chicago, Dublin, Glasgow, Johannesburg,
London, Santiago and Toronto. Further information is available at http://www.mainstreamrp.com/.

About Siemens
For more than 100 years the innovative ideas from Siemens have helped
make Canada a better place. From the Atlantic to Pacific oceans, more
than 4,500 employees in Canada work together to provide answers that
last in the fields of industry, energy, healthcare and infrastructure
solutions for cities. Since it was federally chartered in 1912, Siemens
has stood for technical achievements, innovation, quality and
reliability. Sales for Siemens in Canada in fiscal 2012 (ended
September 30), were $2.1 billion CAD. The company has 53 offices and 14
manufacturing/assembly facilities across Canada. Further information is
available at www.siemens.ca.

SOURCE IKEA Canada