IKEA and Hanergy launch Dutch solar offering
IKEA's has launched a residential solar offer in Haarlem, Netherlands, in partnership with Hanergy, the thin film solar panel installation provider. Dutch consumers will for the first time be able to purchase solar panels from the Swedish retailer through Hanergy, starting at €3200 excluding VAT and with an average price of €4400 excluding VAT for a full installation of a 2.5kW system, with a 15% discount for IKEA FAMILY members. A second IKEA store in Utrecht is due to launch the same residential solar offer with Hanergy in November 2014.
The launch follows a successful pilot in the UK, which has to date seen over 1500 systems of residential solar panels sold. The offer was introduced at IKEA Southampton in October 2013, with national roll out completed across all UK stores in May 2014.
The Dutch solar market has been experiencing steady growth year on year comparable to that of the UK, increasing from 0.1 TWh in 2000 to 0.39 TWh in 2011.[1] Awareness of the benefits of solar energy is high, with 88% of Dutch consumers aware that solar panels reduce energy bills and 70% aware that solar panels still generate electricity when it is cloudy.[2] Hanergy's residential solar panels can save Dutch customers an average of €463 (54%) in electricity costs a year depending on the size of installation. This represents a return on investment of 10.5% in the first year.
IKEA Netherlands Sustainability Manager Lisen Wirén, said, "We are very excited to be able to bring affordable and easy to install Hanergy solar panels to our customers in the Netherlands, the second country in the world to do so after the UK. Solar energy is an important part of IKEA's ambitious People & Planet Positive sustainability strategy. It's the perfect solution for our 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. We are immensely proud 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."