(AGENPARL) – Thu 02 October 2025 Akzo Nobel N.V.
Media release
October 2, 2025
AkzoNobel becomes exclusive supplier for solar absorbing wall technology
(AKZA; AKZOY)
After developing a pioneering coating which can help warm up or cool down a building, AkzoNobel has
now become exclusive paint supplier to the Calosol heat-retaining façade technology it helped to
create.
The innovative panel system – which transforms the façades of homes and buildings into a source of
energy – was created together with Dutch partners Emergo and TNO. At the heart of the technology is
a special AkzoNobel coating which can harness energy from the portion of sunlight invisible to the
human eye. Which means the system can capture solar energy as long as there’s daylight – even when
it’s raining.
Suitable for new-builds or renovation projects – which can be disconnected from the gas network –
estimates suggest using the Calosol technology can result in 20-30% less electricity being needed,
compared with a traditional air-to-water heat pump. So there’s potential to make homes and buildings
energy neutral, or even energy positive. The technology can also contribute to green building
certifications such as BREEAM and LEED.
Calosol’s innovative technology is in use on a demonstration house
located in Almelo, the Netherlands.
Christian Neefestraat 2
1077 WW Amsterdam
P.O. Box 75730
1070 AS Amsterdam
The Netherlands
http://www.akzonobel.com
“The built environment accounts for around 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions, so finding
effective solutions to help reduce the environmental footprint of buildings is vital,” says Wijnand
Bruinsma, AkzoNobel’s Director of Sustainability. “Our Sikkens brand in the Netherlands already helps
customers achieve BREEAM certification and this new façade technology is another innovative addition
to what we currently offer.”
Continues Bruinsma: “The technology we’ve developed with Emergo and TNO represents an important
step in helping to make the built environment more sustainable, especially when you consider that 80%
of today’s buildings will remain in use beyond 2050. So, addressing their carbon footprint isn’t just an
environmental concern, it’s a pressing economic and societal challenge.”
Being able to capture the part of the solar spectrum that’s invisible to humans – which accounts for
more than 50% of the total amount of solar energy – means the aesthetically pleasing panels can be
supplied to building designers in virtually any color, thanks to AkzoNobel’s Interpon and FiduraTM
portfolios. Traditionally, black is most associated with absorbing light, but when using the Calosol
technology white, for example, has more than 30% higher solar absorption.
“The Calosol heat-retaining façade technology is the perfect complement to our sustainable prefab roof
and aesthetic façade solutions,” explains Hendrik-Jan Weggeman, Director of Emergo. “It’s particularly
effective for the renovation of residential homes and other structures such as public buildings that have
important heating needs, including swimming pools. It provides added value to property owners,
architects and housing corporations, expanding the possibilities for sustainable renovations.”
With around 60 billion square meters of unused façade surfaces in the European Union alone, and just
as much roof surface, the technology has huge green building potential.
As well as being successfully tested in lengthy pilot projects conducted with several Dutch housing
associations, the new system also features on a sports hall in Almere and is being installed in several
public buildings across the Netherlands during the next few months.
–About AkzoNobel
Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class
portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150
countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect
from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing more sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we
have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.
Not for publication – for more information
Media relations
Contact: Joost Ruempol