SBS Friction aims to have CO2-neutral production and become free from fossil fuels by 2025. Part of the plan is also to provide excess heating from the production to the grid so the local community can benefit from it. 

Since 2010, SBS has used heat pumps for process cooling, comfort heating, and hot tap water. SBS could have chosen a cooling solution, but instead choose a 380 kW heat pump to be able to use the excess cooling from the heating process for process cooling while also providing comfort heating and hot tap water for the office buildings.  

In 2021, SBS Friction was acquired by Italian brake system manufacturer Brembo. Since then, SBS has rapidly expanded its production capacity. The increase in production capacity also increased the needed cooling capacity, and SBS Friction therefore needed a larger capacity heat pump.

The solution provided is a CO2 Heat Pump that delivers 380 kW of heating capacity at 35°C water inlet and 75°C water outlet temperatures. Cooling is also provided, with 370 kW combined with a chiller module. The solution also includes heat recovery for increasing water temperature for comfort heating and hot tap water. 

The new CO2 heat pump was installed in February 2023, and from February to September 2023, SBS Friction has saved 150,000 kWh thanks to the heat pump. 

SBS also expects to save 50,000 m3 gas yearly corresponding to 90% of their current gas consumption with the new heat pump. The remaining 10% covered by gas is used during weekends and holidays where production is closed, and no excess heat is generated from the heat pump. 

The two old HFC heat pumps carried 23 and 8.6 kg of refrigerants with a total CO2 footprint of 51,935 kg. In comparison, the new CO2 heat pump has a CO2 footprint of 320 kg.