The beautiful Svart hotel in Norway is the first in the world with positive energy.
Located north of the Arctic Circle, in the municipality of Meløy, at the foot of the Svartisen Glacier, the hotel’s name was inspired by the Norwegian word svart (meaning black, in honor of the glacier’s black ice). Designed by the Snøhetta studio, the Svart hotel stands out due to its circular ring design over a fjord, a narrow sea inlet with steep cliffs, formed by a glacier, offering a 360-degree view and capturing as much sunlight as possible.
The Svart consumes 85% less energy than a normal hotel and manages to generate more energy than it consumes thanks to its solar roof and intelligent design.
- 24-hour sun: The hotel’s ring-shape is covered in solar panels, and, as the sun never sets in that area of Norway during the summer (the midnight sun), the panels produce electricity day and night.
- Saving on air-conditioning and heating: The shape of the building is calculated so that the sun can warm the rooms in the winter and so that the terraces provide shade in the summer. By not needing air conditioning and using geothermal heat, the hotel spends 85% less energy than a normal hotel.
Although the Svart is not yet open to the public, it has become one of the most anticipated projects for late 2026 and early 2027. Beyond its revolutionary ecological engineering, it will be a luxury resort for those looking for an arctic adventure and a wellness retreat. It is also said to be a laboratory and innovation space as it will function as an educational center for guests to learn about climate change and carbon neutrality.
Source: Svart
Written by: Gabriela Carmona Rivera
