Värtaverket is among the finalists in no less than two categories at this year’s MIPIM Awards in Cannes. The Swedish biomass-fuelled CHP plant was a collaborative project, designed by Gottlieb Paludan Architects and the Swedish architectural company Urban Design.

The newly built CHP plant in Stockholm is nominated in the categories “Best industrial & logistics development” and “Best innovative green building”, competing against projects by Foster + Partners, Henning Larsen Architects and Santiago Calatrava.

Värtaverket is among the largest biomass-fuelled CHP plants in the world and will reduce Stockholm’s CO₂ emissions by 126,000 tonnes a year. The new plant is fuelled by by-products from the forestry industry and generates 750 GWh of power and 1,700 GWh of heating annually, corresponding to the heating consumption of around 190,000 flats.

The plant façade is wrapped in curved brick components, which may be regarded as a subtle nod to the fine, old industrial buildings in the area and add a warm, red glow and tactile finish to the technical facility.The brick components take the form of vertical slats which cover the exterior of the plant and allow for adjustable and flexible positioning of the necessary openings in the underlying building envelope. 

The winners of this year’s MIPIM Awards will be announced at a grand ceremony during the MIPIM Fair in Cannes on Thursday 17 March.