Spanish researchers aim for zero-energy elevators

Three research groups at Spain’s Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) are working to develop zero-energy, eco-design elevators that are fully interconnected with the outside world, as well as safer, more intelligent and more accessible than present-day elevators.

The UTC groups have been working through Net0lift, a research project led by the Orona Group that aims to ensure Spain’s position in the elevator industry sector.

Spain is Europe’s top manufacturer of elevators and elevator components, and takes second place globally to China. The Net0lift research project aims to find ways to serve the highly competitive and expanding market by developing sustainable lifting systems — including elevators, platforms, moving walkways and urban mobility systems.

Classed as a strategically important team-based industrial research project, the Net0lift initiative has a total budget of €12 million and falls within the framework of a program run by the National Strategic Consortia for Technical Research (CENIT).

Over the next four years, businesses and universities from 10 autonomous communities will participate in the Netolift project.

Without specific technological advances, vertical elevation is expected to continue being a high energy consumer. Elevators currently account for around 3 per cent of a building’s energy consumption.