Adapteo has built a camp to house the more than 1200 workers constructing the Fehmarn Belt tunnel between Denmark and Germany. Called “Craftsman City” and located in Rødby, the camp consists of 500 flexible and furnished homes that will serve as temporary accommodation for the project’s many contractors. The camp will be the largest instalment of low-energy housing buildings in Denmark.  

All the buildings comply with the energy framework for low-energy construction in accordance with Danish building regulations. Among other things, these regulations require the modules only to use just under 30 kW per square meter per year. The requirements are met by using heat pumps with a high SCOP value and  solar panels. The SCOP value shows how efficient a heat pump is in delivering heat over a full year.  

In all, Adapteo has installed 1200 solar panels on the buildings in Craftsman City. In just six months, the solar cells can produce more electricity than what is used, and the excess electricity can be sold to the grid. This makes the solar panels a good investment for both the climate and Adapteo’s bottom line. 

The long-term savings in energy and maintenance costs make them a cost-effective and sustainable option in the long run, even though the initial construction costs for sustainable housing camps may be higher than traditional worker’s accommodation. Moreover, they can provide much-needed housing options in areas where traditional housing may be limited or expensive. 

“Circularity is at the core of Adapteo’s business model. When no longer needed in this location, these buildings and solar panels will continue to serve other communities,” said Lina K Wiles, Adapteo’s Chief Sustainability Officer. 

The Craftsman City in Rødby is the first major installation of Adapteo’s Solar Power as a Service offering, which is available for both existing and planned modular buildings. Solar Power as a Service is part of the launch of Adapteo Essentials, a new portfolio of optional add-on solutions and services available for all Adapteo’s customers. In addition to solar panels, Adapteo Essentials also includes solutions and services such as Facility Management Services, Education and Office Equipment, Heating Pumps, and more. 

The Fehmarn Belt tunnel, an 18 km-long project, is set to be completed by 2029. The Craftsman City in Rødby will be a working city over several years, and the many contractors building the tunnel need to accommodate their employees. This need is far from covered by existing hotels and rental housing, hence the construction of the low-energy camp. The camp has 12,000 square meters of housing and communal facilities. Jens Schmidt, Adapteo Denmark’s senior project manager, said that the solar panels will have a full return on investment in just four years.