Ikea scales up solar retail scheme

Ikea has announced it will expand sales of residential solar panels to eight new countries following a successful UK pilot.


The panels will be rolled out in Switzerland and the Netherlands before the end of the year and in six other countries over the next 18 months.

“We know that our customers want to save energy and live more sustainably at home, but we believe they shouldn’t spend more money or time to do so,” said Ikea Group president Peter Agnefjäll.

“That is why we are determined to make sustainability both affordable and attractive to as many people as possible.”

The world’s largest furniture retailer has also installed 700,000 solar panels on its stores and committed to run 224 wind turbines as part of its goal to match 100% of its energy use with renewable energy generation by 2020.

The company also highlighted a commitment for all plastic material used in its home furnishing products to be 100% renewable and/or recycled by 2020

100% renewable

Ikea first installed 39,000 solar panels on the rooftops of its UK stores as part of its goal to derive all of its energy from renewable sources. 

Speaking at that time, the group’s chief sustainability officier Steve Howard said: “The direction of travel for us is 100% renewable. We’re likely to hit 70 to 80% by 2015. We’ve built up sufficient experience in the area to be more confident in the timeline, so we will set a timeline in the next few months.” 

The solar panels for the upgraded residential scheme will be supplied by the Chinese clean-energy provider Hanergy Solar.

“Solar energy is now one of the best ways for families to live sustainably, while making a sound financial investment,” said Hanergy Solar UK CEO Toby Ferenczi.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer affordable solar energy through our partnership with IKEA to more and more people.

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Brad Allen

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