One of the longest artificial ski slopes in the world will open on the roof of a state-of-the-art green power plant in Copenhagen, Denmark, next year.

The year-round ski run was built into the design of the Amager Bakke waste-to-power incinerator plant so that it could be a public attraction as well as an integral part of the city's plan to make Copenhagen the first zero-carbon city by 2025.

There will be a 440 metre slope from the roof of the plant with three skiing lines of varying difficulty. In addition to beginner and intermediate runs there will be a 180 metre black run with a slope angle of 45 degrees at its steepest. On the slope, the runs will be accessed by moving carpet ski lifts, and an elevator inside the plant takes skiers and snowboarders to the very top.

Just as with an alpine resort, skiers' safety is a consideration, as there is an 86 metre drop from the top of the building. Patrik Gustavsson, who is heading up the project, said: "We’re working with some of the world’s most renowned ski security experts to ensure that it is as safe to go skiing here as anywhere else. One possibility is using nets as safety devices.”

It’s projected that the plant will provide enough clean energy to power 60,000 homes each year by burning 400,000 tons of waste annually. The plant is expected to be operational by December 1, while the slope is set to open next year.

The Amager Bakke power plant will have a year-round ski slope

Copenhagen joins a long list of unusual places that have artificial slopes.

Last year plans were announced to build an apartment building in Kazakhstan with a ski slope running from the roof, while the Finnish ski resort of Levi launched a big project this year to develop a luxury apartment complex with a ski run from the roof – providing the ultimate ski-out experience. The building was designed by Danish architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) – the same firm behind the Copenhagen project.

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Plans are also afoot in China to convert a quarry into Dawang Mountain Resort – a complex with an indoor ski slope and outdoor pool – and Dubai has its sights set on the title of longest indoor ski slope, with a 1.2km facility in the works.