IKEA has become energy independent in its operations in the Nordic countries.

The news comes after its new wind farm in Glotesvalen, Sweden came online earlier this week.

The furniture retailer now runs 46 wind turbines in Sweden and together with one in Denmark, they produce an estimated 361GWh of green energy.

That’s equivalent to the annual electricity supply for 72,000 homes and helps cut more than 288,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Together with the heat energy produced from biomass in IKEA Group factories in Sweden, the company claims it will produce as much energy from renewables as it uses in all its stores, shopping centres, factories, distribution centres and offices in the Nordic nations.

Steve Howard, Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA Group said: “We invest in renewable energy because it is the right thing to do for people, the planet and for the future of our business. Achieving energy independence in the Nordic countries is a big step towards our goal to produce as much renewable energy as all the energy we use globally by 2020.”

IKEA aims to invest €1.5 billion (£1bn) in wind and solar power by the end of this year.