SunPower announced it will offer residential solar and storage purchasing options through home furnishing store IKEA in the United States. “Home Solar with IKEA” is expect to launch in select California markets this fall.
“At IKEA, we’re passionate about helping our customers live a more sustainable life at home. We’re proud to collaborate with SunPower to bring this service to the U.S. and enable our customers to make individual choices aimed at reducing their overall climate footprint,” said Javier Quiñones, CEO & Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA U.S. “The launch of Home Solar with IKEA will allow more people to take greater control of their energy needs, and our goal is to offer the clean energy service at additional IKEA locations in the future.”
“We are thrilled to deliver exceptional solar products to IKEA customers through a unique and simplified buying experience,” said Peter Faricy, SunPower CEO. “Together with IKEA, we can help introduce the incredible benefits of solar to more people and deliver on our shared value of making a positive impact on the planet.”
Other residential solar providers have previously partnered with big box stores to offer solar sales support. Both Sunrun and Vivint have worked in Home Depot stores.
“Other residential solar providers have previously partnered with big box stores to offer solar sales support. Both Sunrun and Vivint have worked in Home Depot stores.”
Another entity that was ubiquitous in “big box stores” was former SolarCity. Before it became a solar PV firm under the TESLA umbrella, SolarCity had a Presents in several markets that they pulled out of and left their customers high and dry, Arizona and Nevada for instance. SolarCity grew too large too fast, depended on “sub-contractors” for system installations and lost control of quality control of their installations. One can only ‘hope’ IKEA, SunPower, have a better business model than SolarCity did.