ACR group and the University of Navarra have sent a prototype of an industrialized facade to Antarctica to test, in the most adverse weather conditions, an innovative heating and cooling system that they have been researching since 2016. It is a model that bets on sustainability and ambitions its future commercialization in the market. The project is developed in the School of Architecture academic center and is financed by the Government of Navarra through FEDER funds from the European Union. The global budget of project amounts to more than 310,000 euros.

The Spanish Antarctic Base Gabriel de Castilla has been in charge of collecting information on the operation of the facade during the last few months. This is the first time that test a prototype of these characteristics has been used in such complex conditions as those existing in Antarctica.

The project, whose goal is to seek a sustainable alternative for the air conditioning of Nearly Zero Consumption Buildings, makes it possible to combine heating and cooling in a single system that eliminates CO2 emissions associated with fossil fuels, as well as the use of cooling fluids using only renewable photovoltaic energy, all thanks to the properties of thermoelectricity.

project in operation since 2010

The project to create this system has been underway since 2010, when the University started with a line of research focused on the benefits of thermoelectricity. In 2016, ACR group joined project bringing its use closer to the Building sector.

The prototype sent to Antarctica has been prepared ad hoc for this goal, adapting its size to the conditions in which it was to be transported and installed.

"Being able to test the system in Antarctica represents a great opportunity. On the one hand, because it means being part of the cutting-edge technology that lands in such an important scientific base to take advantage of extreme conditions that would be very difficult to emulate in any other essay. On the other hand, because it represents an important endorsement for a very relevant project in our group and in its commitment to research and development as a sign of identity", explains María Ibáñez Puy, manager of project on behalf of ACR group.

César Martín-Gómez, researcher manager of project and professor at School of Architecture, says that the "serious" problems facing 21st century cities cannot be solved with conventional solutions alone: "Hopefully this project, which we have been working on since 2010, and which aims to eliminate the use of cooling fluids using only renewable photovoltaic energy, is a step in the direction that society is demanding today".

This innovative project in the Building sector is part of the project "Green Campus" of the Horizon 2020 initiative of the University of Navarra, as well as in the Philosophy of ACR group to bet on innovation as one of the fundamental ways to improve and optimize its work and also as a way to contribute value to society in all those places where it operates.

data from project

In the project, degree scroll "module of industrialized, autonomous and active facade for air conditioning: final integrated demonstration. iACTIV 2.0", the participants from ACR group are: María Ibáñez, Jesús Alonso, Manolo González and Fernando Ibáñez. From the University of Navarra: César Martín-Gómez, José Antonio Sacristán, Kattalin del Valle de Lersundi, Marina Vidaurre, Amaia Zuazua and Luis Fernando Urrea Irigaray.

About ACR group

ACR group is a company of reference letter in the development and management of global construction and real estate services that in its long history has always been characterized by its reliability, professionalism, solvency and innovative character. It is present in Madrid, Catalonia, Navarra, Basque Country, Aragon and Castilla y Leon.