Siemens has completed what it calls the world’s first large-scale, fully electric and near-emission-free building demolition, using a fleet of electric excavators, loaders, and trucks at its upcoming Technology Campus in Erlangen. The project, carried out with Volvo Construction Equipment and Metzner Recycling, is described as a model for future sustainable construction practices.
The site dismantling involved removing two buildings with a combined footprint of 3,300 square metres and a building volume of approximately 24,700 cubic metres. Siemens said the demolition generated around 12,800 tonnes of mineral recycling material, which was reused directly on site for the new construction.
Daniel Bechmann, General Manager of the Siemens construction project, stated: “We have set ourselves ambitious sustainability targets as a company and aim to be climate neutral by 2030. Our new builds are already largely CO₂-neutral in operation. So, it was a great opportunity for us to make a significant contribution to CO₂ reduction on a major construction site together with our competent demolition partners.”
The project used fully electric construction equipment from Volvo CE, including the ECR18 Electric compact excavator, L20 Electric wheel loader, EC230 Electric crawler excavator, and EW240 Electric MH material handler. Emission-free logistics were handled by Volvo Trucks, while Husqvarna demolition robots assisted interior removal.
Therese Schmitz-Hillebrecht, Head of Market Area Central Europe at Volvo CE, said: “Our transformation is no longer a vision, but reality. We are not only developing electric construction machines – we are accompanying our partners on the path to an emission-free future.”
Metzner Recycling ensured that nearly 96% of all materials from the demolition were reused. Michael Metzner, Managing Director of Metzner Recycling, commented: “Taking the first major step towards a fully electric and thus low-emission demolition site as a technical standard is a huge success for us – the Metzner team – and for our clients.”
The Erlangen project follows Siemens’ July 2023 announcement of a €500 million investment to develop a new R&D-focused Technology Campus. The initiative incorporates a comprehensive digital and sustainability concept, including early-stage virtual simulations and a long-term vision for carbon-neutral infrastructure.
Siemens and its partners say the experience has yielded valuable insights for future construction projects. “From machine operators to planners and logistics – everyone was able to familiarise themselves safely with the new technology and the requirements of fully electric construction sites,” the project team reported.