National Nordic Museum Microgrid
Seattle, WA · National Nordic Museum · Operational Q3 2026
138 kW solar · 375 kW / 1,376 kWh storage · power quality correction
Purpose
The museum is a Congressionally designated national institution in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. The microgrid gives it enough backup power to serve as a public shelter and a distribution point for emergency medical devices during a disaster. It also corrects the power-quality problems that come with operating in a heavy industrial area.
Challenges
Ballard's industrial grid environment meant the system had to support frequency and voltage regulation in addition to providing backup power. Permitting ran through both the City of Seattle and Seattle City Light, one of the state's more demanding paths. Sulis carried design, permitting, procurement, and installation under a fixed price that absorbed all inflation and escalation risk, and held that price through 2024-2026 while battery lead times and tariffs moved industry-wide. The battery enclosure was architecturally screened to suit the building and the street it sits on, with custom fencing that featured the museum's logo and Nordic detailing.
