Swedish-grown tomatoes powered by waste heat find space on retail shelves

SWEDEN – The international investment firm Selected Group has entered its second production season at the RegEnergy Frövi greenhouse in central Sweden, where industrial waste heat and renewable electricity are used to grow tomatoes year-round.

Backed by the Selected RegEnergy Fund, the project brings together circular energy use, controlled environment farming, and sustainable investment approaches. Frederik Gundorph Olesen, Group CEO of Selected Group, says the first season proved the model works.

“Our first season confirmed the core assumptions of our model,” Olesen says. “The greenhouse delivered stable weekly output even through winter. We also gained valuable operational insights, especially in plant care, flow optimization, and team organization. Those learnings directly shaped how we’ve set up operations this year.”

This season, the project has shifted to a new operator setup. Daily management now rests with ECA Operator Frövi AB, a company formed to consolidate expertise and retain knowledge in-house.

“This move allows us to keep the operational knowledge in-house while benefiting from close support through KUBO’s Smart Growing program,” Olesen explains. “It gives us more flexibility and tighter control over quality and performance.”

The greenhouse continues to produce premium tomato varieties that meet Swedish consumer preferences, keeping the same core assortment as last season to ensure reliable supply.

“Feedback from the market was very encouraging,” Olesen shares. “Consumers appreciated the freshness and local origin, especially during winter when alternatives are mostly imported. It validated the importance of offering a high-quality, Swedish-grown option.”

Sustainable design with smart systems

From its start, RegEnergy Frövi was built as a circular facility. It uses recovered industrial heat for climate control, harvested rainwater for irrigation, and green electricity to reduce its footprint.

“There haven’t been major sustainability additions this season,” Olesen says. “Instead, we’re fine-tuning what’s already in place. For example, we’re optimizing our heat recovery systems to increase energy efficiency even further.”

The Smart Growing platform monitors water and energy use in real time, with predictive control systems linked to the climate computer. “The Smart Growing platform provides both on-site and remote support, allowing continuous data analysis and precise adjustments,” he adds.

ICA remains the project’s main retail partner, but distribution has widened through membership in the Swedish grower cooperative Odlarlaget. More outlets are under discussion.

“ICA is a highly valued partner, and we’ll continue working closely with them. We are, of course, always open for discussions to expand the distribution, but our current focus is on securing a reliable and high-quality supply out of Frövi,” Olesen says.

“We believe the Frövi model will serve as a blueprint, which can be scaled not just across Sweden but across the Nordics.”

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.