Volvo Cars winner of E-Prize 2015, nominated by ÅF

The winners of E-Prize 2015 were presented yesterday at Veckans Affärer magazine’s annual Sustainability Day. In tough competition, Volvo Car Corporation took home the prize in the Large Company category.

For the seventh consecutive year, E.ON and Veckans Affärer jointly awarded the E-Prize – the largest prize for energy efficiency improvement in Sweden. E-Prize is the most prestigious energy prize in the private sector, rewarding large and small enterprises in Sweden that have successfully improved energy efficiency in their operations and are thus contributing to a more sustainable Sweden.

In tough competition, Volvo Car Corporation took home the prize in the Large Company category. Volvo CC has been working actively with energy efficiency improvement since 2008 in project form, with energy savings targets for every factory. Using “energy maps”, the company drafted concrete goals for energy action and solid decision input. The energy efficiency programme has been refined over the years and has today evolved into an independent and self-evident aspect of day-to-day operations, which means the energy issue is always on the daily agenda.

 The jury’s citation:
“With a driving activist that takes a holistic approach to energy in terms of both manufacturing processes and property stock, and which also has the courage to re-examine several ‘sacred cows’, it is possible to achieve major savings with modest means, even in an industry that otherwise is mainly focusing its efforts on energy consumption of end products.”
Director of Energy: Mihkel Laks

ÅF assisted Volvo CC with energy mapping of Volvo Torslanda, Ghent and Olofström. The commission has continued with our work as project managers for ongoing energy savings projects at the Torslanda and Olofström factories. On the strength of our strategic efforts, Volvo has successfully implemented major savings during the six years the project has been ongoing. 

 As one aspect of this energy savings programme, Volvo has decided to implement the largest and most innovative project of the entire period – The Recirculation Project at the painting factory Torslanda, TB. The project will not only reduce emissions of environmentally hazardous substances, it will reduce annual energy costs by SEK 7,500,000.

ÅF designed and wrote the nomination of Volvo CC for the E-Prize. After the selection process, Volvo emerged as one of three nominees in the Large Company category.

For more information, please contact Martin Åvall, ÅF, martin.avall@afconsult.com

Photo: Pax Engström Nyström