Volvo EC230 Electric provides sustainable power on Green Construction Site of the Future in Denmark

• Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is working with the Danish Technology Institute and other partners including Per Aarsleff A/S on an innovative project to test sustainable solutions.
• The insights gathered from the work of the EC230 Electric excavator will help to implement electric machines on a wider scale in the future.
• The Green Construction Site of the Future project is in the Danish city of Aarhus, which itself has climate ambitions to become CO₂ neutral by 2040.

The 23-ton EC230 Electric from Volvo CE – the largest excavator in its industry-leading electric range – has been used for the very first time in Denmark, on an exciting initiative to explore what the construction site of the future may look like. The machine, one of the industry’s few larger electric excavators, has already proved successful in a variety of applications in other regions.

Lars Overgaard Senior Project Manager at Green Construction Site of The Future and Danish Technological Institute, said: “There is insufficient documentation on the actual effect of different sustainable solutions. In this project, we document the effect specific initiatives have on reducing environmental impact- in particular reduction in noise, CO_2, and other emissions, including different options for green energy supply. Electrification of non-road vehicles has great potential, but there are also obstacles. Ultimately, we convert data to insights and thereby assist the construction industry in accelerating the green transition.”

Lars Overgaard says “We assist the industry in accelerating the green transition”.

Aarhus is Denmark’s second largest city and one of its fastest growing, and like Volvo CE, it has ambitions to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. it was at Mindet, near the Port of Aarhus, where construction on what will be the country’s tallest office building and new public urban spaces is taking place. 

But this is no ordinary construction site. instead, Volvo CE is working with partners including the Danish Technology Institute and civil engineering and construction firm, Per Aarsleff A/S in a pioneering initiative to test out sustainable construction solutions in a real-life environment. Insights gained through the initiative are helping build knowledge and a better understanding of how these solutions can be implemented at scale in the future. For the benefit of the entire construction industry.

Real-time air quality and noise monitoring were carried out to provide invaluable insights into the benefits of introducing electric, hybrid and biofuel (HVO) construction machines over conventional equipment. 

Lars Dithmer, Head of Sustainability, Aarsleff, said:
“The construction industry is on a journey of transformation. Reducing carbon footprint is a challenge, however by adapting fossil free processes and machinery and sourcing sustainable materials we can future proof our company and lead by example in this green transition. The knowledge obtained from projects like that at Mindet will provide valuable information on where we need to focus, invest and to change our habits –to succeed we need to make sustainability a priority across the entire value chain.”

Lars Dithmer, Head of Sustainability, Aarsleff

An electric powerhouse

Proving the power of electric in the transformation toward sustainable construction 

Putting its 23-ton might to good use, the Volvo EC230 Electric was deployed on site in early December excavating the center of the construction site ready for building. A new machine from Volvo CE and one of only a few mid-size electric machines commercially available, the EC230 Electric is currently offered in selected markets. Both slow overnight charging and fast charging during breaks was deployed at the building site. In this way the charging pattern and load on grid was monitored in real time, providing valuable data for further investigation on how to ex. secure enough power for further electrification.

Henrik Torp, Head of Retail Operations Denmark at Volvo CE, said: “We were delighted to be involved in this innovative program to showcase sustainable solutions that are already available today.”

“Through the program, we have gathered substantive evidence of the impact of zero emission construction equipment. The insights gathered are helping support the construction industry with its transition towards more sustainable practices and ways of working. With 70% of global CO₂ emissions coming from towns and cities, approaches like that seen in Aarhus are certainly ones we should be replicating globally.”

 Henrik Torp, Head of Retail Operations Denmark at Volvo CE

Sustainable construction for a sustainable city

The ‘Green Construction Site of the Future’ project was ideally suited for a city intent on addressing its climate impact. Indeed, Denmark is a global leader in sustainability and was the first country in the world to set a target to become independent of fossil fuels by 2050. In 2019, they introduced the Climate Act which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030. The country leads the way in low impact transportation and is home to almost twice as many bicycles as cars. 

What began as a project that attracted national interest has spiralled, with interest growing from government bodies in other countries that have a vested interest in sustainable construction solutions, especially across Scandinavia. 

March, 2023