Promotion of buildings that supply, store, and distribute electricity to the electrical grid

Region Örebro County Energy Agency facilitates a network within the real estate market (fastighetsnätverket). Within this network, we promote energy and environmental good practices in building and maintenance of the real estate. One of the focus areas we have in the network is to spread information about how buildings can create solar electric energy, store it in batteries, and then supply the electrical grid with power when there are demand and high payout. The prediction is that the frequency in the electrical grid will become more and more unstable with the addition of solar and wind power sources. In Sweden, real estate owners with a battery supply of 100 kW or more can balance the frequency in the electrical grid and get a higher payment compared to selling the electricity in a more traditional manner.

Information on the systems and technology benefits are shared through workshops and field trips within the network. One highlighted example is Änglanda School in Örebro. This school has solar cells (PV) covering the roof, a battery central and a geothermal heat pump that stores and uses heat from beneath the football field. The batteries used are produced locally and were chosen based on having the smallest carbon footprint compared to other options. The school produces more electricity than is consumed and the payoff is shorter with all the systems working together compared to a setup with only PV and no batteries. The goal of promoting these systems is to create more resilient self-sufficient buildings, the use of more alternative energy sources, long-term positive economic results, and buildings that can help support the energy challenges of the future.