The Project

Laki 131 Ltd, a Plovdiv-based manufacturer specializing in high-pressure aluminum alloy casting, is implementing a comprehensive set of energy efficiency measures in its mechanical processing facility. The project runs over 12 months with a total budget of BGN 378,144 (approx. €193,000), of which 88% is funded through the EEA Grants programme “Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Security” under procedure BGENERGY-2.003.

The Measures

Four technology investments are at the heart of the project, all recommended through a dedicated energy efficiency audit:

• A robotic system for mechanical cleaning of aluminum castings, reducing specific energy consumption from 0.708 to 0.070 kWh per unit and saving 169,248 kWh annually
• A waste heat recovery dryer for silicone-sealed components, capturing heat from existing compressors to replace electric fan heating and saving 22,347 kWh per year
• A 119.72 kWp rooftop photovoltaic plant expected to supply 114,684 kWh of self-consumed electricity annually
• An energy monitoring and management system to optimize use of the photovoltaic output

Together, the measures are projected to save over 310 MWh per year and reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 366 tonnes annually.

The Partnership

IDN Research AS contributes expertise in energy efficiency, circular economy and green energy through monthly online knowledge-exchange sessions with the Laki 131 team throughout the project. Our involvement reflects our mission of supporting industrial partners in their transition toward smarter, lower-carbon production — and our longstanding engagement with EEA-funded projects across Europe.

This collaboration strengthens the bilateral relationship between Norway and Bulgaria as envisaged under the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014–2021, whose motto guides our work: “Working together for a greener, more competitive and more inclusive Europe.”