Bringing Domestic Solar Photovoltaic Panels to Your Home

Image Credits: Hanergy thin-film modules installed in a domestic setting, via IKEA.

IKEA, the world’s largest furniture retailer, has partnered with Hanergy, a thin film solar panel company, to develop solar photovoltaic installations to domestic customers across the UK.  

IKEA are looking to drive domestic-scale utilisation of solar panels by providing installation and supported finance packages.

Currently, IKEA are offering standard 3.36 kW PV panels at £5700 (US$9120), for all loyalty scheme members. For customers without the loyalty scheme, there is a finance package offered by IKEA to support purchase of the solar PV system.

According to statistics from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, electricity generation from renewable sources has increased by a fifth from 2011 to 2012, with total electricity generation in 2012 at 41,258 GWh.

Though the price of solar panels is relatively high in comparison to other forms of power generation, the statistics indicate a growing interest in using this technology to generate electricity on a wider scale.

British weather has a reputation of lacking regular sunshine, which raises concerns about the viability of solar power in a domestic setting.  Such an assumption could be wide of the mark as it has been shown that users can record cost savings of more than £700 p.a.

Meat balls and book shelves or clean green power from your next Ikea visit?

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.