Stockholm’s groundbreaking fossil-free construction site has reached a major milestone, with 50% of its equipment now running on electric power. This achievement was made possible by the addition of a Volvo L120H Electric Conversion wheel loader, which joins two 30-ton Volvo EC230 Electric excavators at the site. Located in the redevelopment area of the Slakthusområdet (meat-packing district) in central Stockholm, the project has become an international model for sustainable construction.
The site’s electrification efforts have already resulted in a CO₂ reduction of 2,759 tons as of mid-2024 — equivalent to removing 600 internal combustion engine cars from the road for a year. This success earned the project the “Sustainable Construction Project of the Year” accolade at the Swedish Green Building Awards. “The City of Stockholm has a goal of becoming climate positive by 2030,” said Anders Österberg, Deputy Mayor of Stockholm and chair of the City Development Committee. “To reach this goal, we need to continue to require the use of electrically powered construction vehicles and fossil-free construction sites in our procurement.”
The project’s second phase, beginning in mid-2025, aims to reduce carbon emissions further, targeting just 3.5 tons of CO₂ per SEK 1 million turnover (approximately 1 ton per $250,000). This represents a substantial improvement over the typical 11 to 29 tons of CO₂ generated by comparable projects. “When municipalities like Stockholm City prioritize carbon reduction in contract awards, it drives innovation across the construction industry,” said Anna Göransdotter, Project Manager at Skanska, the construction firm leading the project.
The site’s sustainability measures include an extensive electric equipment lineup, from wheel loaders and excavators to an electric sorting tool, compaction tools, and hand-operated electric machines. Two electric semi trucks with trailers, including one from Volvo, are set to join the fleet in early 2025. These advancements, combined with mobile charging infrastructure, underscore Stockholm’s leadership in creating a fossil-free construction future.
