UK consumers were able to buy IKEA solar panels for a short time before they were taken off the market on a 'pause'.
While the scheme is still available in other countries and IKEA are cultivating their greener, more sustainable brand perception, solar panels in the UK are no longer available.
Find out about how much they used to cost, why they were discontinued and what the future of IKEA solar panels might look like.
What are IKEA solar panels?
Affordable home furnishing company IKEA sold solar panels in UK stores between 2017 and 2019, combining green technology with competitive prices and an easy fitting solution.
Working with Hanergy, IKEA would organise an assessment of the property, provide a quote and organise installing the solar panels.
The solar PV (photovoltaic) panels would have provided the homes with energy from the sun's rays to power appliances and lights, just like normal panels — see how solar panels work for more detail on this.
However, the scheme did not extend to solar thermal panels to provide hot water.
Can you buy solar panels at IKEA?
Unfortunately, solar panels are no longer sold at IKEA as they were removed from stores in 2019. Solar batteries are not available either.
An IKEA spokesperson said: "IKEA’s purpose is to create a better everyday life for the many people. IKEA sold solar panels in the UK until 2019. However, due to the feed in tariff coming to an end it meant that solar panels were no longer a viable commercial offer to the many people."
The Feed-in Tariff was a governmental scheme designed to incentivise installing solar panels (and other low-carbon electricity generators) in residential homes. It was introduced in 2010 and ended in April 2019 with no replacement. As a result, many homeowners and companies found that installing solar panels was no longer worth the investment long-term.
Where are IKEA solar panels still available?
Solar panels are still available from IKEA in 10 European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) and Australia.
"IKEA UK and Ireland are instead offered our Renewable Energy for All service in partnership with the Big Clean Switch, enabling the many people to switch to an exclusive renewable electricity tariff," said an IKEA spokesperson.
"We continue to explore and review the UK market for a viable home solar offer, and in the meantime, we will continue offering other clean energy services, such as an exclusive tariff on 100% renewable electricity with the Big Clean Switch."
How much do IKEA solar panels cost?
In the period between 2017 and 2019, IKEA sold solar panels to Family members at a rate of £5,700 for a 3.36kW system (design for a semi-detached home). Solar finance packages were also available where buyers didn't have to pay anything upfront.
In the countries where solar panels from IKEA are still available, the costs vary for SOLSTRÅLE, IKEA's product name for their systems. For instance in Portugal, a home for a family of three (with approximately the annual consumption of 6000kWh) six solar panels (2250Wp) would cost 3.190EURO with VAT included. However, in the Netherlands a family of three is predicted by IKEA to use 3310kWh per annum and 10 solar panels (405Wp) cost 5.299EURO.
