Balcony Solar Energy Kits
Designed by IKEA’s Ingka Group, these solar panel kits rethink how renewable energy can be made accessible to everyday consumers.
IKEA Energy Services, in partnership with Svea Solar, making Belgium the second market globally to offer this sustainable, cost-saving solution for the home (Solar energy for the many, 2026).
The solar panel kits are designed for the many people who want to take control of their energy use but are unable to install panels on a rooftop. No major construction is required. No specialist installer is needed. Just a balcony, a terrace, a garden, or an outer wall and a standard household electricity socket (Solar energy for the many, 2026).
Prices start 349.99 for the balcony solar kits. And there’s a 15% discount for IKEA Family Members and IKEA Business Network members until 31 August 2026 (Solar energy for the many, 2026).
By adapting solar energy to spaces people already have, the design lowers the physical and logistical barriers to adopting renewable energy. Keeping this product relatively accessible from a financial perspective highlights how accessibility can extend beyond physical usability. A similar approach could be valuable in medical-device design, where the cost of equipment can become a significant barrier to receiving care. Designing medical devices that are affordable and compatible with existing rural environments could help bring essential healthcare capabilities to these communities without requiring expensive infrastructure or specialized facilities.
Plug-in solar systems are small solar modules that people can install themselves. Once connected, they immediately start reducing daytime electricity drawn from the grid, helping to lower household energy bills in a simple, affordable way (Solar energy for the many, 2026).
These systems are particularly well suited to tenants and apartment residents – people who are unable to use the more traditional rooftop solar panel solution when it comes to generating renewable energy at home (Solar energy for the many, 2026).
It’s an accessible, practical first step into renewable energy — and it’s the kind of solution that makes sense for the many people, not just the few,” said Signe Antvorskog Krag, Global Energy Services Growth Manager, Ingka Group (Solar energy for the many, 2026).
Rather than designing the product as a standalone object, IKEA considers the surrounding services and infrastructure that make the product accessible and functional.
IKEA Energy Services helps people better manage their home energy use and costs. Rather than selling energy products directly, IKEA connects customers with trusted, vetted partners who deliver, install, and service solutions – from solar panels and home batteries to heat pumps, EV chargers, and dynamic electricity tariffs (Solar energy for the many, 2026).
This systems-based approach could be applied to medical-device design by considering not only the device itself, but also the training, maintenance, support, and resources needed for rural communities to successfully use it.
References:
Solar energy for the many: IKEA Belgium to offer balcony solar kits | Ingka Group. (2026, April 22). Ingka Group. https://www.ingka.com/newsroom/solar-energy-for-the-many-ikea-belgium-to-offer-balcony-solar-kits/
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