Into the Future with Solar Energy
Modernization measures make production at KNF Flodos more sustainable
Sustainability and environmentally conscious behavior have always played a major role at KNF. One measure for a greener future has now been several renovation measures at the Swiss KNF Flodos location in Sursee. From now on, the location will generate part of the electricity it consumes itself, use energy even more efficiently, and stabilize a nearby nature reserve with water.
Renewable Energy from the Roof
Since the end of May 2021, a photovoltaic system on the roofs of KNF Flodos has been generating renewable electricity. Consisting of 1050 solar panels with a total area of 1800 m², the system achieves a nominal output of 370 kWp with an inverter output of 270 kW. For optimal solar yield, the solar panels were installed in an east-west orientation, covering about one-third of the location's electricity needs. During the modernization, two parking lots were also each equipped with a charging station so that the electricity generated can also be used for electric mobility.
New Air Conditioning Increases Well-Being and Production Quality
A constant room temperature in production areas promotes the well-being of employees and is also important for high component and process quality. For this reason, a great deal of attention was paid to modern and high-performance air-conditioning technology during the location modernization.
Intelligent control technology can significantly improve the efficiency of buildings. For this reason, six existing control cabinets were retrofitted, and five new ones installed at KNF Flodos. In addition, 300 electricity sensors were installed for precise monitoring and optimization of power consumption. This made it possible to create a control system that has over 2850 data points and can thus optimally heat, cool and ventilate the building.
New Usage of Water Helps Nature Conservation Area
In addition to electrical energy, KNF Flodos also uses groundwater as an energy carrier for cooling and heating. Since the modernization, this clean groundwater is discharged into the adjacent nature reserve after use, so that the wetland there continues to exist safely for fauna and flora. Prior to this measure, the area known as "Venice" was severely affected by water shortages during summer months. The nature reserve is home to ecologically important amphibian populations, including a large population of palmate newts and the rare natterjack toad, enriching the biodiversity.
