The ACE-building is taking shape – a new testbed for tomorrow’s energy solutions

Skellefteå's future is being built in the city centre – literally. On the Campus area, the Arctic Center of Energy is now taking shape. An initiative that brings together research, education, and tech-development in electrification and sustainable energy. At the center of the initiative is the ACE-building, a seven-story structure that will become a hub for innovation and collaboration, with its opening scheduled for 2027.

The ACE-building is a part of the global energy transition – but gets its shape in Skellefteå.

The project is led by Luleå University of Technology, Skellefteå municipality, and Skellefteå Kraft. Together, they are building an environment for testing future technologies and competency needs, with a clear focus on things that benefit society.

The building, which is partly constructed using recycled materials, will be a platform where research and innovation are combined with education and practical testing. Among other things, advanced lab environments, testbeds for electricity and energy systems, and arenas for workshops and development programs are planned.

Technologies like vehicle-to-grid, digital twins, and cybersecurity are tested in real environments – often in collaboration between academia, businesses, and the public sector.

The ACE-building itself is also a test environment. With solar panels and wind power integrated into the roof, a ventilation system that can be reprogrammed, and an energy system that can be connected to other platforms, the building serves as an experimental space for both engineers and researchers.

In the ACE Cybersafe project, simulated cyberattacks are carried out to find solutions for the future of connected buildings. The building is designed to be a meeting place where students, researchers, and entrepreneurs share spaces, everyday life, and visions. The initiative also creates new pathways for vocational training, adult education, and further education – with the goal of preparing the region for the competency transition required by electrification. The fact that the building’s is being certified according to Miljöbyggnad Guld and NollCO2 highlights the ambition level.

The ACE-building is meant to be an example of how a sustainable future can be built – with smart technology, conscious material choices, and a clear climate responsibility. And as a reminder of the belief in the future, a time capsule is integrated into the building. It contains messages from children, researchers, and citizens to future generations. Ideas that will remain relevant even tomorrow. Innovative thinking. Together with great people.

Read more about the ACE House here External link.