SBF Safiren in Kalmar has built its own microgrid with solar cells and charging points from ChargeNode. A precedent-setting ruling opens the way for more sustainable properties in Sweden.
SBF Safiren got the right in court against Kalmar Energi. Since April, the property has its own micro-grid with solar panels on the roof — for heating, domestic electricity and for electric car charging via ChargeNode charging poles.
Bo Wernersson, property manager at the real estate company Svenska Bostadsfonden, has recently gone “from unknown to acclaimed” and has been featured in many media. After a five-year legal process, he and SBF were granted the right to create a self-sufficient microgrid with solar cells and just one connection to the municipal grid.
“The idea started with us putting solar cells for our heat pumps. When we counted, we realized that we didn't need more than half the roof space for our heat pumps,” says Bo Wernersson.
Thus, it was possible to also provide the tenants with household electricity and make the property self-sufficient with green electricity on an annual basis. But then they needed to create their own internal network with only one connection to Kalmar Energi. This required the approval of all tenants. Man got it. But Kalmar Energi said no.
“It was the start of a five-year legal process with many appeals.”
In the end, they were right in a precedent-setting judgment, which means that it is free for other properties in Sweden to do the same. In May 2025, the Safiren quarter was able to celebrate the inauguration of its complete microgrid.
“It was a lot of fun, and it's been very successful. Many tenants who received the electricity bill have heard from them and wondered if they should not pay more,” tells Bo.
During the process, he himself has been invited to participate on behalf of the Government and Riksdag on the “Green conversion of older properties”.
Then last fall, the Sapphire's parking lot is illuminated in the evening hours by 17 charging poles from the ChargeNode powerlight.
“It has worked very well with ChargeNode. We have had no trouble anywhere and these are good people to deal with. We've had requests from neighbouring properties that don't have their own charging poles if they can rent from us. '
With the court decision and the inauguration, Safiren is on trial. But the journey continues. Bo Wernersson and Svenska Bostadsfonden have more properties on the way to creating similar energy solutions.
“One is ongoing in Helsingborg, we have more properties in Kalmar and also in Luleå. In all of these projects, we include ChargeNode charging poles. That's a competitive advantage for us. In the long run, I think it may be difficult to rent out apartments if you can't offer charging points,” says Bo Wernersson.
Svenska Bostadsfonden is a real estate company founded in 2003 that manages approximately 3,600 apartments in 20 locations from Trelleborg to Luleå. They engage in active and local property management and sustainability is a central part of the entire business model.
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