Norwegian hotel in arctic circle produces more energy than it consumes

A new hotel located next to a glacier will be entirely energy self-sufficient and also produce a surplus amount of energy that will be shared with the grid.

A dramatic new hotel under construction in Norway will combine high design and high sustainability. The Svart hotel is a collaboration between the architecture firm Snøhetta, Arctic Adventure of Norway, and construction company Powerhouse. The hotel will open in 2021 and will be entirely sustainable and energy efficient. It will be located at the foot of the Svartisen glacier in northern Norway, just above the Arctic Circle. Furthermore, the hotel will look out onto the Holandsfjorden fjord landscape.

The design and use of materials in the hotel is inspired by traditional Norwegian rorbue. For example, seasonal houses used by fishermen are supported by poles; and the use of fiskehjell structures, are wooden frames used by Norwegian fishermen to dry fish. The hotel will be circular and built on wooden stilts that lift the building out of the water. This reduces the building’s footprint and preserves the natural environment of the site. The design will also allow sweeping 360-degree views of the remote and rugged Arctic terrain. The location of Svart will allow guests to fully experience the arctic environment. Activities include expeditions to see the northern light and ice climbing. The hotel will generate its own electricity using solar panels and geothermal wells, making it 85 percent more energy efficient than traditional hotels.

Prior to construction, the architects mapped how solar radiation behaves in relation to the terrain, in order to optimize the use of solar energy. This led to the idea of the circular design, and the strategic placement of the hotel’s rooms and terraces to take advantage of the Sun’s energy throughout the day and seasons. Here at Springwise, we have already seen a number of innovative ideas for sustainable tourism, including a travel agency that offers carbon offsets and an island nation that requires all tourists to sign an eco-pledge. What other places make good locations for sustainable tourism?