Recycling the Sun’s Energy

Cables with a brighter shadow.

Solar panels have become an increasingly common sight on rooftops across the country. From residential homes to large industrial buildings,
we see panels capturing the sun’s power and converting it into sustainable energy. Tranemo Municipality has taken a step in the same direction by expanding its recycling station with a new facility for hazardous waste, which features its own solar power system. On the roof, 40 solar panels have been installed, connected to a battery pack to maximize the use of self-produced electricity. 

Nexans' product manager, Håkan Brandt, has followed the project and visited the facility to meet Thomas Timell and Anton Fransson from Elajo, the electrical company responsible for the entire installation. As in many of their projects, they chose to work with Nexans cables—especially the new solar cable H1Z2Z2-K, as well as the communication cables ELAQBY and J-H(ST)H. 

A recycling station that also recycles the sun’s energy—can it get any better?

It feels like an obvious investment, doesn’t it? This is a recycling station, and the fact that it now has self-produced electricity makes it even more exciting to be part of the project. We are seeing more and more solar installations that combine panels with battery storage, allowing electricity to be used more efficiently. Here, the municipality can save energy while also showing residents exactly how much electricity is being produced—displayed openly on a screen at the facility. 

Speaking of smart solutions—you used Nexans' new solar cable. How did it perform?

Really well! It is flexible when pulling through conduits and slightly easier to strip than other cables we’ve used before. That might sound like a small thing, but when you do it hundreds of times in a project, you notice the difference. The other Nexans cables—ELAQBY, used for communication between the inverter and the smart meter (suitable for outdoor use), and J-H(ST)H, used for communication between the inverter and the battery pack (indoor use)—are already familiar to us, and they deliver as always. 

You use Nexans cables in about 90% of your projects. What keeps you coming back?

Quality and reliability. We know what we’re getting, and Nexans has a product range that covers our needs, including both standard and specialized solutions. Another major factor is that their manufacturing is just 20 kilometers from here. We strive to work as locally as possible, and using cables produced nearby feels like the right choice—for both us and our customers. 

Looking ahead, how do you see the development of electrification?

There has been a bit of a slowdown recently, largely due to the economic downturn and global uncertainty. Electricity prices also affect the willingness to invest in solar panels—lower prices make it harder to justify the investment as quickly. At the same time, the cost of installing solar panels and batteries has decreased, so in the end, it might balance out. 

So, a recycling station that both conserves energy and generates its own electricity—a smart solution for both the environment and the economy?

Exactly! It feels great to be part of a project where everything has come together so well, and where we’ve contributed with a solution that is both sustainable and future-proof. We look forward to seeing how this facility inspires others to think along the same lines! 

We bask in the praise for our cables and thank you for the chat!