Copenhagen District Heating Tunnel
Construction of a ca. 4km long deep tunnel to transfer heating water from an existing Power Station to the centre of Copenhagen.
Year: 2005
Country: Denmark
Contract Value (US$): 80 Million
The Copenhagen District Heating Tunnel was delivered by a Joint Venture between MT Højgaard and Hochtief AG and comprised three deep shafts and a 4 km EPB TBM drive through the chalk formations beneath Copenhagen. The works encountered significant technical challenges, including high groundwater inflows and abrasive flint bands, placing demanding requirements on tunnelling operations and equipment performance. The scheme formed a key component of the city’s strategic energy infrastructure, constructed within a dense urban environment where careful control of ground movement and construction impacts was essential.
The tunnel alignment passed beneath highly sensitive buildings, including the Amalienborg Palace of the Danish Royal Family, where strict settlement limits and minimal disruption were required. During his tenure, Andreas Tauschinger held overall project responsibility within the Hochtief organisation while also serving on the Joint Venture Board, contributing to the successful delivery of this technically complex underground scheme, completed in 2008 and forming a critical part of Copenhagen’s district heating infrastructure.