Energy Machines leads groundbreaking green energy transformation at Bonnier Fastigheter’s headquarters

November 7, 2023

Bonnierhuset, a 61-meter-high high-rise building in central Stockholm, holds historical significance as the first concrete scraper built after World War II. Originally designed as an office and printing house, the building continues to evolve with the times, now embracing sustainable energy solutions.

Bonnier Fastigheter AB is taking a significant step toward sustainability and environmental responsibility through a transformative green energy project at its headquarters, Bonnierhuset. With Energy Machines as the turnkey solution provider, the 74-year-old building will obtain 92% of its heating and 100% of its cooling from renewable energy generated on site.

This initiative demonstrates the practical application of low-carbon energy technologies to decarbonize operations in existing urban buildings, while offering valuable insights for property owners and industry stakeholders seeking to adapt their portfolios for the green transition.

Overview of the project

Energy Machines is employing a geothermal integrated energy system at the iconic 51,000 sqm office complex in central Stockholm. The integrated system will have a capacity of 1.3 MW for heating and 1.5 MW for cooling, utilizing 27,520 meters of geothermal boreholes located beneath the building's basement car park.

Thermal energy will be moved between the building and boreholes via four Energy Machines heat pumps, enabling heat and cold to be seasonally stored and reused throughout the year.

Uniquely, and for the first time in history, an electric-powered air compressor is being used to drill the required 86 boreholes. This new-to-the-market Atlas Copco air compressor provided by Team Wessman AB replaces traditional diesel-powered alternatives, reducing noise and eliminating the burning of approximately 90m³ of diesel and extending the environmental benefits of the system even further.

"Our vision is to be a sustainable urban developer. At Bonnier Fastigheter, we are excited to embark on this project, which represents a green transformation of the Bonnierhuset. We firmly believe in value creation and sustainable energy solutions, and we find it truly remarkable to make this project environmentally friendly throughout the entire chain. This project is part of our decarbonization plan," said Mook Changrachang, Energy Strategist, Bonnier Fastigheter.

The integrated system will deliver 4,700 MWh/year of heat and domestic hot water and 1,900 MWh/year of cooling. When operating at peak power (e.g., on the coldest day of the year), the system uses up to 294 kW of electricity. Its annual total electricity consumption amounts to 1,176 MWh. This results in a significant reduction of the building’s yearly CO2 emissions by more than 75%.

Setting a practical example

Anticipated to be fully commissioned around November 2024, the Bonnierhuset project provides a tangible example of how implementing low-carbon energy technologies into the current building stock can make a real impact for the green transition.

“We're thrilled to extend our collaboration with Bonnier Fastigheter on another exciting project in one of Stockholm's landmark buildings. Bonnier Fastigheter's stringent sustainability standards and the project's unique technology attributes present a challenge align seamlessly with Energy Machines’ expertise in transforming buildings into energy machines that generate, store, and reuse their own energy. We look forward to adapting Bonnierhuset’s energy operations for a greener future,” said Karl Brag, Stockholm Regional Manager, Energy Machines.

Bonnierhuset car park site for geothermal boreholes (prior to drilling).

Atlas Copco air compressor from Team Wessman AB arrives for borehole drilling in the car park.
Energy system components
  • Digital twin simulations: EM Simulate
  • Design: EM Modular Design
  • Geothermal storage: BTES (borehole thermal energy storage) with 86 x 320m boreholes
  • Borehole location: Building car park, Floor 1
  • Heat pumps: 4 x Energy Machines EMA/EMB series with low GWP (global warming potential) <10 and ventilated enclosure
  • System controls: EM Control
  • SCADA platform: EM Cloud, accessible from the cloud
Contractors

About Bonnier Fastigheter

Since 1856, Bonnier Fastigheter has been a committed long-term property owner, contributing to the development of sustainable, secure, and open communities. The company operates in three key areas: Commercial Properties, Residential, and Invest. Most properties are situated in Stockholm's city center and Uppsala. Bonnier Fastigheter is fully owned by the Bonnier family.
Contact: Mook Changrachang, Energy Strategist, [email protected]

About Energy Machines

Energy Machines is revolutionizing the way buildings harness and use energy. By combining proven low-carbon energy technologies like geothermal heating and cooling, heat pumps, and local energy storage with a deep expertise in software-driven energy system design, Energy Machines enables buildings to operate as fully integrated systems that outperform alternatives on carbon emissions, energy usage, and operating costs.

Energy Machines is proud to offer Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) for project financing, designed to remove financial barriers in the transition to green energy. The EaaS model allows asset owners to completely save their installation and operating costs, while receiving energy from a locally integrated green energy solution and never paying more than they would for market rates.

By turning every building into a high-performance energy machine that generates, stores, and reuses its own energy, Energy Machines believes that, together, we can accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
Contact: Madeleine Lempereur, Marketing Manager, [email protected]