In partnership with Sweden-based solar energy company Svea Solar, home furnishing giant IKEA is now offering residential propane (R290) air-to-water heat pumps to customers in Germany.
The heat pumps are sourced from Swedish manufacturer Aira and provide space heating and domestic hot water, according to Svea Solar. Last year, Aira launched its R290 residential heat pumps in three sizes: 6, 8 and 12kW (1.7, 2.3 and 3.4TR). As part of its collaboration with IKEA, Svea Solar will install the systems and apply for government subsidies on behalf of homeowners. The purchase price includes the heat pump and installation costs.
“The installation is straightforward, both in new buildings and existing ones,” Svea Solar said. “Compared to traditional heating systems, you can save up to 75% on heating costs and significantly reduce your CO2e emissions.”
The Aira R290 units provide up to 70°C (158°F) hot water in ambient temperatures as low as −25°C (−13°F). To further reduce emissions, Svea Solar can tie the heat pump system into a homeowner’s photovoltaic solar array. Svea Solar offers residential solar systems in five European countries, including Germany.
Potential savings: IKEA Family and IKEA Business Network members qualify for a 15% discount on the purchase and installation of the Aira heat pump, and when combined with subsidies from the German government, the potential savings are as high as 85%.
- The German government offers a rebate of up to 70% of the “eligible costs” for the purchase of a heat pump “to owners of an existing residential building.”
- The base rebate is 30% of eligible costs, with a further 5% available for heat pumps that use a natural refrigerant.
- An additional 20% rebate is available to those whose purchase replaces a fossil fuel heating system by December 20, 2028. A further 30% rebate is offered to households with a taxable annual income of no more than €40,000 ($45,350).
Walking the walk: The Ingka Group, the largest IKEA franchisee operating 400 of the brand’s 484 stores, announced in November 2024 that it would install “renewable heating and cooling systems” in new and existing stores.
- “We push for CO2 [R744] and other natural refrigerants worldwide whenever possible,” the Ingka Group told NaturalRefrigerants.com.
- Jason Zhang, Cluster Engineer — Real Estate, Asia Pacific Cluster at Ingka Group, said the company is prioritizing natural refrigerant HVAC&R solutions for its stores during a presentation at ATMO Australia 2025. The event, organized by ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, was held May 12–13 in Sydney.
Quotable: “Sustainable living should be accessible to the masses,” said Jacqueline Polak, Renewable Energy/People and Planet Positive at IKEA Germany. “That’s why we at IKEA are making renewable energy solutions like heat pumps affordable.”
