Housing Co-op HSB is building Sweden’s largest solar park, with 50,000 solar panels.
The co-op will give member organisations in Södermanland the chance to acquire shares in the park, close to a Stockholm highway. The move comes as Sweden continues its efforts to have 100% renewable electricity by 2040.
“It feels fantastic that this project will become a reality,” said Jon Leo Rikhardsson, CEO of HSB Sodermanland. “The benefits of the solar park are twofold: We offer you our housing co-operatives solar electricity at a good price, while powerfully contributing to the transition to renewable energy.”
The construction of the 45-hectare solar park, which will be the largest in Sweden, begins next March. It will have a production capacity of 18,000
MWh, enough to meet 90% the housing co-op’s needs. HSB has 624,000 individual members from 4,000 housing associations with 340,000 flats.
“We started our investment in solar cells three years ago, when we set up solar cells on HSB Södermanland’s own rental properties,” said Mr Rikhardsson. “We have sold the concept to most of our tenant-owner associations. But there are limiting factors when it comes to setting up solar cells on roofs. That is why we are now continuing to build the solar park.”
HCB aiming for a 75% reduction in its climate impact in time for its centenary in 2023, and wants to bring its environmental impact close to zero by 2030.
