Will Ikea boost sales of solar panels in France? The Swedish giant, leader in furniture in France, has just signed a partnership with the company Voltalia to offer its French customers an installation service for solar panels. It will first be available from the start of the academic year in the departments of the South of France, then gradually rolled out in the rest of the country by the end of 2020.
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In France, as in the eight other countries where the sale of panels is already effective, Ikea partners with a player in renewable energies who takes charge of the service, while Ikea ensures its promotion, in its stores and on its site. Internet. The Swedish group charges a commission on sales made. In France, it has teamed up with a listed player in which the Mulliez family is the majority shareholder, present in the field of renewable energies for 15 years.
"We bring together our two areas of expertise, Ikea in home furnishings, Voltalia in renewable energies," explains Pierre Deyries, director of sustainable development at Ikea in France . We, as a group, have been engaged in an energy transition for many years. We want our many customers to have an impact in turn. ”
France less equipped
The price for solar panels is not yet fixed, but in countries where Ikea already offers them, the group claims to be 10% to 20% cheaper than the competition, with an equivalent level of service. “ The fact that our solution is affordable economically is a key element of its success, ” agrees Pierre Deyries. France is still relatively little equipped with solar panels, if we compare it to its European neighbors. Individuals have deployed 400,000 against 1.5 million in Germany for example.
France is still relatively little equipped with solar panels, if we compare it to its European neighbors.Concretely, the customer interested in installing solar panels on their roof will be put in contact, via Ikea, with Voltalia. The latter will first provide him with a free administrative and technical diagnosis, by analyzing the slope of his roof, its sunshine and the regulatory constraints related to the location of his home. This diagnostic will tell the customer what energy savings he is likely to achieve with his configuration - at most 50% of his electricity bill. This diagnosis will require a delay of about a month. Voltalia then installs the panels and maintains them if necessary.
For the company from the Mulliez galaxy, which achieved a turnover of 175 million euros last year, this partnership with Ikea is an opportunity to develop its activity for individuals, for the time being marginal. To date, Voltalia is primarily an electricity producer and a business service provider. For example, it has just signed a contract with Auchan retail, which has undertaken to buy electricity from two solar power plants for 20 years.
