IKEA, the DIY-furniture giant, is offering you a way to make your own solar array by selling solar systems through its stores. The English can already buy panels at IKEA Bristol, according to their website. Soon, they will be available in the Netherlands starting in stores in the Haarlem region, to be followed by its stores in Utrecht within a month. After the Dutch, the Swiss and residents of six other countries will be able to buy solar through IKEA.
The furniture chain tied up with thin-film solar module maker Hanergy. The offering isn’t exactly DIY, because according to IKEA, “Hanergy Solar UK have been chosen to offer a full solar installation service using next generation solar technology.” Aside from that, customer support is also available from the company’s customer service lines.
IKEA sees a bright future in solar and has already installed 250,000 panels on its facilities all around the globe. So, they see it as a natural extension to offer solar panels to its customers. In fact, they are offering members of their loyalty program, IKEA FAMILY, an extra 15% off on solar installations for their homes.
According to the website, customers can earn around £700 a year by generating one’s own power and saving up to 50% of their energy tab. Furthermore, the income is tax free guaranteed for the next 20 years. 1,500 customers in the UK have already availed of the package since October this year.
In the Netherlands, the price starts at €3200, although the typical system would cost around €4400. Dutch customers can earn €463 a year for a 10.5% ROI.
IKEA and Hanergy are optimistic about the prospects in the Netherlands given the high level of awareness, as well as the relatively high energy prices in that country.
The retail giant earlier offered electric bikes, solar lamps, charging stations and the like. If anything, IKEA’s offering shows that going green makes sense not only for big customers, but for the average Joe.
Soon, it’ll makes sense for the average Jan and other ordinary around the globe like you and me, if IKEA has anything to do about it.
