Kløvermarken Gasworks

Safety was given highest priority when MT Højgaard built Kløvermarken Gasworks, which supplies Copenhagen with a new and more environmentally-friendly town gas.

In autumn 2007 Københavns Energi switched over to a new and more environmentally-friendly town gas – Bygas2 – which is based on a mixture of natural gas and air. MT Højgaard built the ultramodern Kløvermarken Gasworks for Københavns Energi, to replace the old Sundby Gasworks.

The new gasworks consists of two small plants, that together with Standvænget Gasworks annually produce almost 20 million m3 of the new town gas which Copenhagen's inhabitants use.

Safety given highest priority

Although the plant doesn't take up much more space than an average house, it is still a special task to construct a gasworks. Due to the risk of explosion, safety is given the highest priority. If an explosion occurs, it is safest if the roof takes the pressure, rather than the doors and windows flying out to the sides.

So the roof has been made in a light construction of steel sheets and roofing felt, while the walls are held together by four steel beams that are solidly positioned beneath the ceiling.

To prevent gas leaks, all pipe connections were carefully made leaktight, and the whole building has been acoustically insulated to meet the requirements of the authorities.

Masonry arches

Another requirement was that the building should have the same exterior architectural expression as the original building. This was achieved in collaboration with masonry firm J.O. Pedersen, and resulted in four perfect stone arches.