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FACILITIES MANAGEMENT


Soletair Power is currently working on


several projects to create carbon net zero buildings. “These projects are using various


advanced measures to reduce CO2 emissions during building construction and operation; in some cases, our solution is the final touch that tips the emissions over onto the negative side, and we should have some exciting results to share in the coming years,” Laakso states.


CONVERTING CAPTURED CO2 INTO SUSTAINABLE FUEL In autumn 2018, Wärtsilä, a global leader in innovative technologies and solutions for the marine and energy industries, approached Soletair Power


about using extracted CO2 to produce fuels, before coming aboard the project with a seed investment in April 2019. The collaboration produced the world’s most compact device that uses air to create fuel. The Power-to-X demonstration unit, which was showcased at the Finland Pavilion at Expo 2020 in


Dubai, used renewable power and CO2 from the surrounding air along with hydrogen from water to produce synthetic methane, which was then used to power a coffee machine for tradeshow guests. The companies have also collaborated on the development of an HVAC-integrated unit that


captures CO2 from the inlet air at Wärtsilä’s Sustainable Technology Hub in Vaasa and supplies CO2-lean air to the building.


ACCURATE SENSORS ARE A KEY BUILDING BLOCK


The goal of the CO2 capture system is to reduce a building’s energy consumption while maintaining the same level of air quality inside.


“Our system keeps the CO2 in the building at a low level, so that the ventilation can operate at very low levels in a demand-controlled mode. We need to be able to accurately measure the


CO2 data to determine how much the system is capturing, which is where Vaisala’s sensors


come into play. As well as CO2 sensors, our technology also uses sensors for humidity and temperature at various points in the process.” Soletair Power uses the duct humidity and


temperature transmitter HMD60, the CARBOCAP carbon dioxide transmitter series GMD20, the CARBOCAP carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity transmitter series


GMW90, and Vaisala’s handheld CO2 meter GM70 to take these readings. Laakso explains the reasons behind choosing Vaisala: “It was important for us to use top-notch equipment in all of our units. We previously used cheaper sensors from elsewhere, but we found that the long-term stability of the equipment was lacking, which meant that we couldn’t guarantee accurate data as the equipment aged. Conscious of Vaisala’s reputation for customer service and


accurate reliable measurement solutions, we therefore moved to Vaisala.” Laakso also highlights the importance of


reliable equipment in gaining insights from measurement data: “The performance of our chemistry-based solution is affected by various factors including ambient conditions, so if you don’t have reliable data, it’s hard to judge why those changes have occurred.” Soletair Power’s future plans include


developing the TVSA technology to make the


CO2 capture systems more compact and improve the sustainability of their operation. “We expect to continue our cooperation with Vaisala, and as our solution develops, we will likely need the support of their experts on which sensors to choose and how to calibrate them to work optimally in changing atmospheric conditions,” Laakso explains. With global urbanisation continuing apace and emissions regulations becoming ever stricter, the need for innovative solutions in buildings and construction is set to grow – and with disruptive pioneers like Soletair Power leveraging Vaisala’s stable and reliable measurement technologies to take big steps forward, the future is bright.


Vaisala www.vaisala.com


FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS | JULY/AUGUST 2023 37


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