Volvo CE & Hitachi Energy: Zero-Emission Construction Sites

Volvo Construction Equipment and Hitachi Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that establishes a framework to support the deployment of electric construction equipment.

The collaboration will focus on system‑level requirements needed to enable electric construction machines on site including power supply, charging solutions, energy management and operational integration.

The companies say the collaboration is focussed on accelerating the transition to zero-emission construction sites. 

The construction industry is one of largest generators of greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonisation is one of the industries most pressing challenges.

According to McKinsey, over one-quarter of global CO2 emissions come from building operations alone. 

Volvo and Hitachi Energy collaboration

Under the agreement, Volvo CE and Hitachi Energy will work on a non-exclusive basis to assess potential technical and commercial concepts supporting zero-emission construction and manufacturing operations, with a focus on system integration and site-level operational execution. 

Melker Jernberg, President of Volvo CE, says: “Strategic partnerships such as this with Hitachi Energy are key to accelerating the transition to zero-emission construction.

“By combining complementary expertise and delivering a complete, integrated solution, we are giving customers the confidence, security and peace of mind they need to adopt emission-free operations today.”

In a press release, Volvo CE says the scope includes joint work on business models, go‑to‑market approaches as well as aftermarket and support considerations.

Sustainability in construction

A report from McKinsey shows that the built environment is responsible for almost 40% of global energy-related CO2 emissions and produces about one-third of the world’s waste. Over one-quarter of global CO2 emissions come from building operations alone.

Regulatory and permitting frameworks increasingly require projects to address emissions and environmental performance throughout the planning and approval process; at the same time there is customer and investor demand for lower‑emission, more productive construction operations.

McKinsey says as the value of the global green built environment approaches US$2tn, there’s a growing opportunity to disrupt the allocation and flow of building resources with circularity.

Transitioning to zero-emission construction

While electrification, automation and efficient resource and asset planning offer clear pathways to reduce emissions, transitioning from individual electric machines to fully functioning zero‑emission construction sites requires a coordinated ecosystem of solutions. 

It also requires effective system integration across equipment, power infrastructure and energy management systems. 

Volvo CE says the collaboration between the two companies represents an important next step in providing customers with a comprehensive solution to help navigate and accelerate this transition.

Niklas Persson, CEO of Grid Integration at Hitachi Energy, says: “Electrification is a game changer in the decarbonisation puzzle, particularly for hard‑to‑abate environments such as construction sites.

“As construction operations become more electric and more complex, success depends less on individual technologies and more on system‑level integration, strong execution and close collaboration with partners like Volvo CE who share our ambition to enable zero‑emission construction at scale.”