Sustainable Projects
As an energy company, Ellevio enables the transition to a fossil-free society. But the transition also requires that we – just like everyone else – reduce the footprint of our own operations. Therefore, we strive to minimize the impact on the climate and the environment when electricity network and civil engineering work is carried out on behalf of us. The unique pilot project Sustainability Orsa was the first to be launched. And now we are aiming at more projects and initiatives.
Our sustainable projects include the use of electric vehicles and work machines.
Success in Orsa shows the way
Ellevio's first project with a special focus on sustainability was called "Sustainability Orsa", and was part of Ellevio's investment in modernizing and weatherproofing the electricity grid in Orsa municipality. A five-kilometre-long overhead line in the local electricity grid was replaced with buried cable. At the same time, the project left no stone unturned to find ways to minimize climate and environmental impact at all stages.
The goal was that the insights would pave the way for a shift in both the energy industry and the Swedish construction and civil engineering sector in terms of impact on the climate and the environment.
The project in Orsa was a collaboration between Ellevio, the contractor Omexom, the cable manufacturer NKT and Orsa Municipality and the County Administrative Board of Dalarna.
The project led to a 70 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, among other things.
A key part of the Orsa project's sustainability profile was a new form of climate-smart cable developed by NKT, which was used for the first time in Orsa. The new cable has a significantly lower climate impact in aluminium production than traditional cables and is manufactured with low-carbon aluminium from the Norwegian company Hydro.
Being able to use cables that generate as little greenhouse gas emissions as possible is important to Ellevio because emissions from cables account for as much as 60 percent of our emissions.
Ellevio's goal is for all vehicles and work machines used in our projects to be electrically powered by 2030, which is why electric propulsion was also a natural part of the pilot project in Orsa and will continue to be central to our sustainable projects.
The project led to a 70 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, among other things.
Ellevio's target for electric vehicles and work machines by 2030
Electric propulsion by 2030 is the goal and these vehicles are covered:
- work vehicles, service vehicles and company cars used by our contractors
- vehicles that transport materials or equipment to us and to our contractors (within Sweden)
- work machines, so about excavators, wheel loaders, cranes and forestry machines
- own work vehicles and company cars
If charging infrastructure, contingency aspects or technical challenges prevent electric operation, HVO – renewable diesel produced from vegetable and animal fats – or other fossil-free fuels can be used in exceptional cases.
Promoting biodiversity
Sustainable projects are also about exploring and carrying out efforts to promote species richness and protect areas with high conservation values. Here, too, Orsa took the lead and tested different methods.
The County Administrative Board of Dalarna, affected municipalities and nature conservation interests participated and mapped, among other things, invasive species and birds' nesting periods. Stone cairns and fences for local lichens were established, as well as bee hotels as well as nest boxes and nesting platforms for owls and other birds in the old pipeline posts.
Circular material flows
Circular material flows and initiatives for reuse are also included in the areas evaluated in Ellevio's sustainable projects.
In Orsa, a special sorting bucket was used, which meant that soil could be reused, with the advantage that less new filling material and fewer transports were needed.
More sustainable projects in the pipeline
Our work with sustainable projects has only just begun. In 2023, the projects below were initiated, but more will follow.
Selected sustainable projects
Five kilometres of overhead line in the local grid have been replaced with buried cable as part of the effort to modernise and weatherproof the electricity grid in Orsa municipality.
Climate-friendly cables, electrically powered work machines, efforts for biodiversity, less material consumption and better recycling,
Project period: May–November 2023
Connection of advertising sign in central Stockholm.
Electric construction equipment has been used.
Project period: October–November 2023
Underground cable.
NKT's climate-friendly medium-voltage cable has been used.
Project period: October–November 2023
Underground cable.
NKT's climate-friendly medium-voltage cable has been used.
Project period: autumn 2023
Seven kilometres of underground cable to connect a new switchgear and two new substations.
Electric excavator, electrified wheel loader and electric crane truck. Electrified chainsaw. Underground cable with 70% lower climate footprint and cable conduit with 50% recycled material. Transformers with a lower carbon footprint.
Project period: May-September 2024
Information from Ellevio AB,
updated on 7 June 2024