Heliospectra Announces Commercial Water-Cooled Light First Application In Space

GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN and SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 14, 2016) - Heliospectra AB (publ) (OTCQB: HLSPY) (FIRSTNORTH: HELIO), a world leader in intelligent lighting technology for controlled environments horticulture, is now one step closer to growing safe space station food crops. Together with the EDEN ISS project, the company has developed a new water-cooled, high-intensity version of the popular LX60 LED grow light, for use in future space exploration and commercial applications.

Heliospectra has been working together with the EDEN ISS project to develop a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) system for safe food production on board the International Space Station and for future human space exploration missions. The company's role in the project has been to create a water-cooled light emitting diode (LED) solution based on the company's renowned expertise in horticulture lighting technology.

The new light will reflect much of the benefits of the LX60 Series including wireless monitoring and spectral tuning control system, a wide, uniform light distribution pattern, and low heat emissions. But it comes in a more compact form factor as a result of the water-cooled heat dissipation solution. The first production deliveries of the new light for the EDEN ISS project are scheduled for August/September.

"We are very privileged to be working in such a creative environment with knowledgeable and driven people. This collaboration gives us valuable information on all aspects of a controlled environment agriculture and helps us develop innovative solutions so that they can be applied to larger commercial markets," said Heliospectra CTO Anthony Gilley.

"The market shows an increased demand for improved environmental control and optimized use of resources. For areas lacking a proper water supply, like the Middle East, or areas with contaminated soil and water like in China, CEA could make a huge difference in utilizing resources. Water-cooled LED lights enable growers to grow crops in a more environmentally friendly way by reusing the heat from the light and reducing the HVAC demand on the system," says Staffan Hillberg, Heliospectra CEO.

EDEN ISS is an international consortium participating in the EDEN Initiative, a research program from Germany's DLR Institute of Space Systems (ISS). It is a project that received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 636501. The overall goal of the EDEN ISS Initiative is the adaptation, integration, and demonstration of food plant cultivation technologies and operation procedures for safe food production on board the International Space Station and for future human space exploration missions.

The next step of the project is to integrate and extensively test all systems developed by the participating members at DLR's facilities in Bremen, Germany. The complete facility will then be shipped to the German Neumayer III station in Antarctica in October 2017 for a real-life simulation and conclude in February 2019.

About Heliospectra AB
Heliospectra AB (publ) (OTCQB: HLSPY) (FIRSTNORTH: HELIO) (www.heliospectra.com) specializes in intelligent lighting technology for plant research and greenhouse cultivation. The Company's lighting system provides an effective and durable technology for cultivating greenhouse and indoor plants by combining several different groups of versatile light emitting diodes (LEDs) with optics, remote sensing techniques, and a robust heat dissipation solution. This proprietary setup gives growers the ability to control the intensity and wavelengths of the light emitted, creating a spectrum specifically adjusted to different plant species and growth stages to better facilitate photosynthesis. The complete, highly-engineered lamp produces crops that look better, taste better, and have a longer shelf-life than those grown under HID lamps. The technology not only reduces energy consumption by up to 50%, but also helps stimulate growth characteristics and improve plant quality. Other benefits include reduced light pollution, lower mercury use due to the avoidance of traditional HID/HPS bulbs, and less HVAC investment and monthly expense requirements.

Heliospectra products are based on in-depth knowledge in plant physiology and photosynthesis along with a unique way to utilize modern LED technology. After six years of development in Sweden, the company has now begun to expand into the international market. The company has raised more than $ 21 million in capital and has received more than $2.6 million through academic scholarships and grants. It has also received numerous awards for its forward thinking technology. Principal owners: Weland Steel www.welandstal.se, Swedish Industrial Fund www.industrifonden.se, Midroc www.midroc.se, Avanza Pension www.avanza.se.

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