Ikea will produce energy through solar panels on the rooftops of its hypermarkets

In the future, the company wants to sell not only furniture but also electricity.

Ikea plans to equip the roof of one of its hypermarkets in Australia with solar panels, writes Bloomberg. In combination with energy storage systems and other technologies, they will provide the store with full power for the entire system.

“We are adapting our commercial facilities to produce clean energy, and we are going to be electricity producers,” IKEA Australia’s IKEA Director General Jan Gardberg told the publication.

IKEA plans to launch a pilot project in the city in partnership with local authorities, Gardberg said but refused to disclose the details of the project. By 2025, the company intends to fully switch to alternative energy sources, says Bloomberg.

Australia’s choice is not surprising: thanks to a large amount of sun and strong winds, the country has launched many projects with alternative energy sources in recent years. Their development is hindered by coal-fired power plants, around which new networks have been built, says the publication.

In June 2020, IKEA began selling solar panels for homes in Australia. The company has entered a crowded market: “There are panels on almost every fourth house,” says Bloomberg. The Director-General of IKEA Australia is confident that she will be able to stand out thanks to a high level of service, product guarantees, and brand recognition.

The Swedish furniture manufacturer has been investing in renewable energy for over 20 years, reports Bloomberg. Over the years, the company’s largest franchisee, the Ingka Group, has invested €2.5 billion ($2.8 billion) in the construction of wind and solar power plants.