IKEA To Sell Solar Panels

IKEA plans to pour $77 million into clean-technology start-ups within the next five years and could add "green" goods such as solar panels to its inventory, according to Cleantech Group.

The four-person, 50 million euro IKEA GreenTech fund has been operating for eight months, the report said. And it could invest in up to 10 fledgling companies in the next few years, perhaps first in Europe, where IKEA rings up about 82 percent of its sales.

Read the full story here

-OR-

Check out recent solar energy developments:

::MIT's Solar Breakthrough
::Giant Retailers Harnessing Solar
::Solar Power, No Panels Required

Comments

[realityczech4u]

This is a small step toward making up for all the cheap, flimsy furniture of theirs that has wound up in landfills.

[OldKnute]

Well,, this is wonderful,, but the article says nothing about the company that IKEA is choosing to supply them with Solar Panels.

Is it a Modularized System,,, Plug and Play,,, Standardized Connectors. Can you start with 2 Panels, then add one a month till you have 16? Will they also sell inverters? From Multiple Suppliers?

Why no include Wind Turbines?

In the 1920s, Sears and Roebuck cataloged had Wind Powered Pumps and Generators.

Why can"t IKEA include Wind Turbines?

Well I am still glad to see IKEA coming on board.

This is very good.

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[vipersdad]

I bought one of these - I ended up with 2 extra dowels, a cam-lock and a bolt.

Hope i installed it correctly...

[research]

if you live in AZ CA CN MN CO Mo NY OR TX,

Installed Solar power is FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.power-savetv.com/incentives.html

[kellygrrrl]

I'm in So Cal. Did it a few years ago. Love it!

[Birdman]

I'm not sure what you are getting at the cost of a medium sized system (4 Killowatt) is around 40 K out of pocket with 20 K rebate from the state that is hardly free. Also the payback is in the area of 7 - 10 years. The real travesty is before California offered a 50 % rebate the very same system was 20 K installed, the very day the rebate became effective all the prices doubled. I cannot afford 10 K let alone 20 K if the payback were better it might be more of a consideration. What reaally needs to be done is for the US to adopt a progrma that Germany has which is the system is paid in full by the government with the thinking it is cheaper and better for the enviroment to pay fo rsolar panels then building more power plants. Course in this country it will never happen when Large energy companies have us all by the throat.

[FlyingLow]

This guy is a shill for a marketing company that will spam you repeatedly if you give them your email address.

[research]

FlyingLow "I'm a professional installer and fully believe in the technology and support our national solar initiative, but we need to properly manage expectations. Solar thermal is a much better value for anyone above 39 degrees latitude."

So now we know why you don't want people going to Power Saver.

I know only what I have read on their web site. I have not gotten any spam from them. One person has responded to my posts and said they got a free system and it's great. Don't FUD stop you.

Solar thermal IS a very good idea where heating is the major yearly expense. Wind might be even better.

[larmarch5]

Just hook a generator up to your PC or TV so you have to pedal for power. Good for you; good for the kids; good for the environment.

[thinbluetorpedo]

Is this an attempt at humor, or a cry out from a challenged individual?

[Clark]

They could start by selling more efficient lighting like LEDs and lamps that don't require a hot 5-lb transformer. And point-of use water heaters.
I'd love to have a solar panel array that I could take home and hook up myself - but let's get the more efficient stuff inside the house first.

[circles]

They already sell LED lighting in the LACK series. Not sure of the transformer. They also have LED indercabinet lighting.
Solar would be a welcome addition.

[KillTheMessenger]

If you hook it up yourself, you are likely to lose your state's tax incentive (which requires professional installation), without which the panel is a surefire money loser.

[FlyingLow]

Agreed. Photovoltaic panels absolutely require the installation services of someone very knowledgeable about the entire process. For example, if you're not well versed in the site analysis process, don't even start. But, even if you are, your state will disallow the credit if this wasn't installed by a professional.

[OldKnute]

Awww Killthemessenger,

Hooking up Solar is easy. Even if it is not modular.

A professional is NOT required as long as you have it inspected by your local Building Authority and take out the proper permits and provide the Engineering Specifications, (From the Manufacture) That is Constitutional LAW,, Read the front inside cover of your UBC. Uniform Building Code. These,,,, Individual Rights,,, are protected by Federal LAW.

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[Ganderdnaw]

This is awesome!!! But the question is, will I be able to afford it? But like any other money saving item, it helps in the long run. Thanks Ikea! Hope you keep up with the project.

[meanguy]

i've been on the web, pricing systems...it looks like i'd have to outlive dick clark to make it worthwhile...let's hope the cost can come down as technology improves

[research]

It's about 3-4$ per peak watt retail. That's about 9-16$ per average watt. At my cheap 7cents per kilowatt hour, that's break even at 2-4 years.

[research]

Can You afford FREE?

http://www.power-savetv.com/incentives.html

AZ CA CN MN CO Mo NY OR TX

[applespider]

I can't wait!

[jsarets]

Heh, good luck keeping them in stock. NanoSolar has already sold out its production runs clear through 2010, and long-term fixed net-metering rates in Germany and elsewhere are allowing homeowners and landowners to secure large bank loans to install PV on their properties. The demand is insatiable.

On the supply side, it's hard to get private investment in mass production because of the risk of someone else finding a way to produce more wattage per dollar. What good is a plant that produces panels at $1/W when another plant springs up doing $0.85/W? Unfortunately, the life-cycle cost analysis for PV deployment is a whole lot simpler than the life-cycle cost analysis for PV production.

[research]

Actually the "big three" thin film solar manufacturers are all getting very large investments.

http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2223468/miasol-secures-significant

The cells are getting so cheap, the remaining costs are dominating: installation and inverter costs.

[KillTheMessenger]

But most of the business still happens to be in silicon. Which means that those who are getting the news are not necessarily getting the business.

Your point about installation being the cost driver is correct. Even if the cells were for free, residential solar would suffer from installation costs because of the small scale. It's a real case of "diminishing returns". I don't see residential solar coming below $1/W in the US, at all. Which installer wants to spend a whole day on your roof to install a 1kW system for less than $1000? Maybe with "do-it-yourself"...

[KillTheMessenger]

They might have sold out "production capacity", but have they produced anything, yet?

:-)

[Cynth]

This is great news, great leadership, and I hope solid business for them.

[truthynesslover]

Im hoping for some really great prints on my solar shades!

[Destin]

Hey, every little bit helps. I'd welcome the chance to buy some panels down at the local store.

[writerforhire]

With solar panels being the newest addition to the easy Ikea way to fill your home with furnishings can miniture wind harvestors be far behind? Is that even possible? A wind farm that generates enough power for harvest to reduce the average home's electric useage?

[KillTheMessenger]

Is it possible? Sure. If you live on the plains and don't mind a 5MW wind turbine "humming" along all day and night. The simple truth is that photovoltaics works on all scales at roughly the same level of cost that mostly depends on insolation. But wind won't break even until it goes really big but then it pays of big time, too. That's a consequence of the third order dependence of power of wind speed and the fact that the wind picks up a lot once the turbine is higher off the ground.

I doubt Ikea wants to sell 5MW turbines and I doubt you could afford to buy them. So the problem is rather theoretical.

[research]

Micro turbines are being sold. Once they go into mass production, they can be cheaper then big turbines since the mass required scales linearly with the power produced (both are 3rd power).

check out these Helical Turbines: the work with wind or gusts from any direction:

http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2006/06/urban-turbines.html