Ikea, the largest home-furnishing company loved by the college students and pre-Pottery Barn parents of the world, will soon sell solar panels in its U.K. locations.
Ikea will begin selling systems in their 18 U.K. stores in the next 10 months, the retailer released in a statement. After a successful trial period that began this past July, the Hong Kong producer has decided to sell thin-film panels, consultation, installation and maintenance services, Bloomberg reported.
Ikea will be the first mainstream retail company to sell solar panels to the public, the company wrote in its statement. According to Ikea's sustainability Chief Steve Howard, who spoke with the Wall Street Journal, Ikea is working to create "a real business" through the sale of the environmentally sustainable panels.
"In our opinion it's the first time a truly global retailer has provided dedicated retail space and dedicated staff to PV," co-chief executive officer of Hanergy's U.K. office Toby Ferenczi, an energy company with whom Ikea will partner to sell solar photovoltaic systems, stated.
But these items won't run along the Knipsa, Kassett or Komplement price point - standard solar panel kits start at a cool $9,200. They include 3.36-kilowatt photovoltaic systems, and leasing options are available. The company maintained that although the price tag is somewhat daunting, customers will find that the solar panels eventually pay for themselves, due to high energy savings in the long run.
Ikea has not specified whether they will branch their solar business out to the United States, but one official from the company told the Wall Street Journal that they're weighing the possibility.
Currently, some U.S. companies like Home Depot sell solar panels, while other corporations are trying out payment incentives to get folks to purchase solar panels. Startups like SolarCity leases their systems which they install and maintain for a small up-front fee, Slate reported. Then, customers make monthly payments for electricity, similar to conventional energy set-ups.
