Press release -
The Karlstad sun – the motor of a unique testing facility
The Karlstad sun will now have to prove worthy of its reputation as Löfbergs and ClimateWell is building the world's first large-scale testing facility of solar panels for heating as well as cooling. The new technology reduces energy use and CO2 emissions, and the project is being followed with very great interest by the European Commission among others.
- The Karlstad sun is a well-known concept and it feels great to involve it in a project that focuses on the area of climate change and that can make companies and organizations all over the world reduce their climate impact, says Lars Appelqvist, CEO at Löfbergs.
- We are thrilled to have found a partner that just like us want to be at the forefront by using this innovation for a responsible and sustainable entrepreneurship, says Per Olofsson, CEO at ClimateWell that has developed the new technology.
The first large-scale testing facility in the world
The project - named SunCool - involves a 180 square metres testing facility built on parts of the roof of Löfberg's premises in central Karlstad. The facility is scheduled to be operational in June 2014. The project has a budget of SEK 30 million. EU (Life+) sponsor one half, Löfbergs and ClimateWell the other.
Global potential
The new solar panels are unique in several ways. Partly when it comes to technology and efficiency, and partly when it comes to how easy they are to install on existing buildings. The solar panels will produce twice as much energy as current solutions and can be used for both heating and cooling.
- The new technology can reduce energy use with 90 %. As for CO2 emissions, they could be reduced with more than 300 million metric tons per year if the technology was to be used on existing buildings. That corresponds to the emissions of 100 million cars, says Per Olofsson.
- With this demonstration facility at Löfbergs, there is great potential that the technology will be used in the entire world, says Per Olofsson.
For more information:
Lars Appelqvist, CEO, Löfbergs, +46 (0) 54-14 01 29
Per Olofsson, CEO, Climatewell, +46 (0) 733-11 80 82
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Löfbergs is one of the largest family-owned coffee roasters in the Nordic countries. The company has 300 employees and a turnover of SEK 1.5 billion. The head office is situated in Karlstad, Sweden and the company has its own roasting-houses in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Latvia. The company was founded in 1906 and is today one of the world's largest importers of ecological and Fairtrade labelled coffee. Löfbergs also owns the tea brand Kobbs.
