Copenhagen’s rapid urbanisation and its ambitious goal to become carbon-neutral by 2025 presented a unique challenge: how to manage the city’s growing waste while addressing the increasing demand for renewable energy. CopenHill, also known as Amager Bakke, blends industrial efficiency with urban recreation. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the combined heat and power waste-to-energy plant processes waste from households and businesses, converting it into clean energy.

The building replaces the 50-ear-old Amagerforbrænding plant and is the single largest environmental iniative in Denmark. Operating around the clock, CopenHill provides district heating to 160,000 households and electricity to 62,500 residences, significantly advancing Copenhagen’s decarbonisation goals. On its roof, a year-round artificial ski slope and hiking trails create a recreational area, while the world’s tallest climbing wall adorns its side.

By transforming waste into energy and providing a venue for urban sports and leisure, CopenHill not only helps Copenhagen achieve its carbon-neutral ambitions but also serves as a model for cities worldwide seeking to integrate the green transition into the urban landscape. Biologists have monitored the biodiversity of Copenhill since its inaurguration in 2019. At the latest investigation in 2020, 119 different new plant and tree species were observed.