Heliospectra (publ) receives a grant of SEK 500,000 – for the development of energy-efficient and water-conserving plant cultivations in the Middle East Heliospectra AB (publ), a world leader in intelligent lighting technology for plant research and greenhouse cultivation, has been awarded a grant from the Swedish Energy Agency totalling SEK 500,000. Until 31 August 2016, Heliospectra will analyse and improve the possibilities for engaging in energy-efficient, water-conserving growing in the Middle East.
– This venture represents a strategically important development project for Heliospectra. It also of utmost significance for the region as a whole, where water is in short supply and is expected to be an even scarcer commodity in the future. The need to identify energy-efficient and, perhaps even more importantly, water- conserving means of growing plants in the Middle East is enormous in places such as the Middle East, says Staffan Hillberg, CEO of Heliospectra.
For example, a minimal amount of Qatar’s food consumption comes from crops grown in the country, with almost all foods being imported. This system is not sustainable in the long term. While a limited growth regime is possible in a greenhouse environment, temperatures during the summer months can reach over 45 degrees Celsius, making crop growth all but impossible. In certain areas in Africa and California, water will be at even more of a premium than it is today.
– Projects like the Middle East project at hand, which aim to advance the efficiency of plant growth, are going to be increasingly necessary. These are projects where we at Heliospectra, with our products and expertise, can play a major role, according to Staffan Hillberg.
The project’s budget stands at an approximate total of SEK 1.7 million, of which the Energy Agency’s grant covers 30 percent and Heliospectra is funding the remaining 70 percent. The project is part of a larger cooperation agreement between Heliospectra’s part-owner Midroc New Technology and GORD – Gulf Organisation for Research & Development. The aim is to create a pilot facility combining energy-efficient products from Swedish companies in the Midroc portfolio.
Heliospectra is already one of the driving forces behind future-oriented projects aiming to develop effective growing systems with minimal consumption of light and water resources. Among other leading positions, Heliospectra is part of an international consortium which constitutes a part of the EDEN Initiative, a research programme developed by the German aerospace centre, DLR Institute of Space Systems (ISS). EDEN ISS’ primary objective is to develop, integrate and demonstrate various crop cultivation technologies and operating processes for safe food production on board the International Space Station and for future manned space expeditions.
Gothenburg, 19 January 2016
Investeerdersrelaties:
Staffan Hillberg, CEO van Heliospectra, +46 (0)708 36 59 44, staffan.hillberg@heliospectra.com
Lars Sjögrell, persvoorlichter bij Heliospectra, +46 (0)702 69 53 00, lars.sjogrell@perspective.se www.heliospectra.com
G&W is de gecertificeerde adviseur van het bedrijf. www.gwkapital.se
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Heliospectra Pressrelease 2016-01-19 English.pdf
Over Heliospectra AB
Heliospectra AB (publ) (OTCQB: HLSPY, FIRSTNORTH: HELIO) (www.heliospectra.com) specializes in intelligent lighting technology for plant research and greenhouse cultivation. The Company’s lighting system provides an effective and durable technology for cultivating greenhouse and indoor plants by combining several different groups of versatile light emitting diodes (LEDs) with optics, remote sensing techniques, and a robust heat dissipation solution. This proprietary setup gives growers the ability to control the intensity and wavelengths of the light emitted, creating a spectrum specifically adjusted to different plant species and growth stages to better facilitate photosynthesis. The complete, highly-engineered lamp produces crops that look better, taste better, and have a longer shelf-life than those grown under HID lamps. The technology not only reduces energy consumption by up to 50%, but also helps stimulate growth characteristics and improve plant quality. Other benefits include reduced light pollution, lower mercury use due to the avoidance of traditional HID/HPS bulbs, and less HVAC investment and monthly expense requirements.
De producten van Heliospectra zijn gebaseerd op diepgaande kennis van plantenfysiologie en fotosynthese in combinatie met een unieke manier om moderne LED-technologie te gebruiken. Na zes jaar ontwikkeling in Zweden is het bedrijf nu begonnen met uitbreiding naar de internationale markt. Het bedrijf heeft meer dan $ 21 miljoen aan kapitaal opgehaald en heeft meer dan $2,6 miljoen ontvangen via academische beurzen en subsidies. Het heeft ook talrijke prijzen ontvangen voor zijn vooruitstrevende technologie. Voornaamste eigenaren: Weland Staal www.welandstal.se, Zweeds Industrieel Fonds www.industrifonden.se, Midroc www.midroc.se, Avanza Pensioen www.avanza.se.
Toekomstgerichte verklaringen
De verklaringen in dit persbericht zijn toekomstgerichte verklaringen zoals bedoeld in de federale effectenwetgeving. Dergelijke verklaringen zijn gebaseerd op onze huidige overtuigingen en verwachtingen en zijn inherent onderhevig aan belangrijke zakelijke, economische en concurrerende onzekerheden en onvoorziene omstandigheden, waarvan vele buiten onze macht liggen. Daarnaast zijn dergelijke toekomstgerichte uitspraken onderhevig aan aannames met betrekking tot toekomstige bedrijfsstrategieën en beslissingen die aan verandering onderhevig zijn. Potentiële risico's en onzekerheden omvatten, maar zijn niet beperkt tot, technische vooruitgang in de sector en politieke en economische omstandigheden in de sector. We nemen geen verplichting op ons om toekomstgerichte uitspraken bij te werken om gebeurtenissen of ontwikkelingen weer te geven nadat een toekomstgerichte uitspraak is gedaan.