Akademiska Hus has invested around SEK 11 million in the eight new solar cell plants with a total area of approximately 2,000 m2 that have been installed at the Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC) and buildings in the English Park at Uppsala University. Akademiska Hus, which is already the real estate company in the country with the most solar cell installations, is thus expanding that management and currently has a total of 129 plants across the country that annually generate 10.4 million kWh of sustainable electrical energy for Swedish higher education institutions.
"We are putting a lot of effort into achieving a more sustainable energy supply, not least by reducing the amount of energy supplied and investing in locally produced renewable energy sources. Our solar cell systems account for almost 2 percent of our and our tenants' electricity use, which in times of rising electricity prices also gives us extra security," says Erik Florman, Head of Sustainability at Akademiska Hus.
Towards a Vision Zero
Akademiska Hus has set ambitious climate goals and will achieve climate neutrality throughout the value chain by 2035. Akademiska Hus has already installed solar cells at Uppsala University on buildings such as Blåsenhus, Campus 1477 and Ekonomikum. In total, the existing plants and the eight new ones will produce close to 1 million kWh of environmentally friendly solar electricity annually. The amount of solar energy corresponds to the average consumption of 70 normal-sized houses or to drive about 125 laps around the world with an electric car.
"The University's goal is to halve the climate footprint of its operations by 2030. In the work to achieve this goal, Akademiska Hus' major investment in renewable, locally produced solar electricity is an important contribution. Through collaboration, we can be much more successful than when we work separately," says Karolina Kjellberg, Head of Environment at Uppsala University.