IKEA to offer residential solar panels in the Netherlands

Swedish furniture store IKEA is to offer residential solar panels in the Netherlands.

In partnership with thin-film module manufacturer and installer Hanergy, IKEA will offer residential solar panels in its Haarlem, Netherlands store.

Dutch customers can buy solar panels from IKEA with prices starting from €3200, and an average installation price for a 2.5kW system €4400. IKEA said it is also to offer a 15% discount to its ‘IKEA Family’ members.

IKEA plans to extend the availability for solar panels in its Utrecht, Netherlands store next month, Switzerland in December and six other countries in the future.

The expansion to the Netherlands is after a successful pilot in the UK which saw 1,500 systems sold. The pilot began in Southampton, UK in October last year – and was available from all UK stores by May 2014.

Hanergy and IKEA claim an installation could save €463 (54%) in electricity costs a year for customers from The Netherlands – a 10.5% return on the initial investment in the first year.

IKEA said the Netherlands has a growing solar industry with high public awareness of solar energy; 88% are aware that solar panels reduce energy bills and 70% are aware that solar panels still generate electricity when it is cloudy.

IKEA’s Netherlands sustainability manager, Lisen Wirén, said residential systems would suit customers “who want to live sustainably and save energy at the same time, without too high an investment".

Hanergy Solar UK CEO, Toby Ferenczi, said: “Residential solar panels are one of the best ways to reduce electricity bills and can provide significant annual savings.”

Hanergy is planning to “continue to work with IKEA in rolling out our offer in Europe following a successful UK pilot, and are looking forward to enabling as many families as possible to save on energy costs while living more sustainably” added Ferenczi.