The world’s first climate neutral research centre!

ESS  wants to contribute to the climate strategies developed by the EU and the Swedish government and has therefore set the objective that ESS shall be carbon-neutral and as energy effective as possible. This shall be achieved through a three-part energy strategy:

• Only electricity from investing in renewable energy sources such as wind power and/or bioenergy shall be used
• Energy-saving strategy reduces the need for electricity by 10 per cent through energy-saving measures and energy-saving construction
• Reuse of excess heat in Lunds Energi’s district heating system
• ESS will become the first large research facility to work under these conditions and become an example for future facilities.

There are several environmental and economic advantages with these energy solutions:

• The electricity used does not only derive from renewable energy sources, a large proportion will also be recycled. Thus, doubling the environmental benefits.
• ESS energy requirements will decrease by 20 per cent, compared to if ESS had been built anywhere else.
• Excess heat will not be ventilated directly into the atmosphere via cooling towers, as with conventional facilities.
• The landscape scene will escape visual encroachment in the form of tall cooling towers.
• Investing in producing electricity for own consumption means that the operational costs can be reduced and that there is a buffer against fluctuations in the price of electricity, which commonly occur and can increase the operational costs significantly.