An indoor football arena, in the Norwegian town of Fauske, perched above the Arctic Circle, has been fitted with a smart lighting system designed to eliminate dark spots on the pitch and cut energy use, in a project that reflects growing interest in efficient sports-facility infrastructure.
The SKS Arena has replaced its outdated metal halide lamps with 90 LED luminaires from Glamox, the Oslo-based lighting manufacturer.
The venue, which serves as the home ground of FK Fauske/Sprint — set to play in Norway’s Third Division next season — had previously suffered from patchy illumination that players joked allowed strikers to “hide” in the shadows.
The new luminaires provide uniform lighting that meets broadcast standards, while also being robust enough to withstand direct hits from footballs. The units comply with German DIN 57710-13 impact-testing rules for indoor sports facilities.
The system runs on Glamox’s Ethernet2DALI lighting management platform, allowing operators to adjust brightness and switch zones on or off depending on activity. Only part of the pitch can be lit for training sessions, or just the perimeter track for runners, with the entire system accessible remotely via a secure internet connection.
“With the new lights, we expect a reduction in energy consumption of at least 25%,” said Tom Erik Lund, Managing Director of the SKS Arena. “If we suddenly see that the light is on when it does not need to be, someone can log in and control it from home.”
The LED fixtures, which offer outputs of up to 70,000 lumens and lifespans exceeding 100,000 hours, have also reduced maintenance costs, according to Lund. Previously, the arena had to hire lifts annually to replace failed bulbs in a ceiling that ranges from 10 to 23 metres high.
“We effectively turned a hall above the Arctic Circle into an artificial sun-filled arena that has become an asset for the local community,” said Toril Bache Jenssen, Sales Director for Glamox in Norway.
The installation was carried out by Haneseth in Fauske.
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