ABB has supplied a customised an energy storage system for an entirely timber-built Swedish “landmark” cultural centre.
The Sara Kulturhus is a cultural venue and hotel in Skellefteå, home to the city library, a museum, art gallery and a theatre.
Standing 75 metres tall, the 20-storey timber building is one of the world’s tallest wooden structures and is an international showcase for sustainable design and construction, with 100% of its electricity coming from renewable sources, including hydro and wind generation.
The timber structure removes more than twice the carbon emissions produced by the operational energy it uses and the embodied carbon from the production and transport of the materials used to construct it.
As a zero-emissions site, the Sara Kulturhus design required careful consideration and innovative solutions, include a battery energy storage system (BESS) which was designed collaboratively by Skellefteå Kraft and ABB to provide reliable, clean power to the building’s all-important fire sprinkler system.
In a timber construction like the Sara Kulturhus , the sprinkler system is critical to keeping staff and visitors in the building safe.
Traditionally, this fire protection system would be powered by emergency diesel generators, which serve as an onsite power supply should the mains power not be available.
With the Sara Kulturhus’ commitment to sustainability, there is no diesel generator on site, so an alternative solution was required.
Skellefteå Kraft and ABB worked together on a bespoke energy storage solution to deliver maximum safety and reliability while harnessing the building’s hydroelectric green electricity, received from the grid, which is used as the power supply.
The bespoke BESS comprises six battery packs from local supplier Northvolt, AC and DC switchgear from ABB, inverters from EPC Power and a transformer.
Sara Kulturhus CEO Anna Jirstrand Sandlund, said: “This is a lighthouse project which embodies the region’s values of delivering ecological, economical, and social impact to attract more people to Skellefteå and supports the green transition across North Sweden.
“With a wooden building of this scale, fire safety had to be one of our main considerations.
“By collaborating with ABB and Skellefteå Kraft we have developed a unique solution that is now one of the highlights of our twice daily guided tours for visitors.”