Beyond solar: The European playbook for whole home electrification

Europe is moving faster than the US on combining home energy upgrades into one package. Electric vehicles are now outselling gas cars there, and companies are bundling solar panels, heat pumps (electric heating and cooling systems that replace furnaces and air conditioners), and home batteries into single offers. IKEA, for instance, pairs solar and heat pumps with electricity plans that charge different rates depending on the time of day. Octopus Energy, a utility company, will lease you an electric vehicle through the same company that installs your solar panels and supplies your power.

Installers in Europe also treat battery storage as a standard part of a solar install rather than an optional upgrade, according to accounts from two installers who have gone through this shift firsthand.

None of this describes a US program or rebate, and no dollar amounts, dates, or American eligibility rules are mentioned. It is a look at how the residential energy market is evolving elsewhere, particularly the idea of treating solar, batteries, EVs, and heat pumps as one connected system rather than separate purchases. Whether similar bundled offers reach American homeowners will depend on individual utilities, installers, and state programs, so it's worth watching whether solar or electrification companies in your area start offering similar packages.