The Voldsløkka school in Oslo provides a valuable reference model for integrating decentralized onsite renewable energy sources, flexible storage, and energy-efficient design in public buildings. The project’s innovative use of BIPV, coupled with investigations on second-life battery system, provides a comprehensive and transferable framework for achieving Plus-Energy performance in school buildings and other public facilities.

A key replicable feature is the successful integration of BIPV as both an energy-producing and architectural element. The project showcases how PV can be embedded into the building façades with non-standard color schemes, expanding aesthetic options for architects without compromising energy production goals.

The integration of second-life battery systems provided improvements in self-consumption and grid independence (self-sufficiency). However, the economic viability of battery systems remains sensitive to capital costs and market participation levels.

A thermal system consisting of a CO₂ based ground-source heat pump with boreholes and water tanks was successfully demonstrated. The most important issues in replicating this type of thermal system are the size of the heating and cooling loads and the performance of the boreholes.

For more insights, take a look at the report ‘Guidelines for integrated design and implementation of renewable energy systems and energy storage system for buildings and neighbourhoods in Oslo’.