Takeaways

• Volvo CE and Hitachi Energy have signed an agreement to support the deployment of electric construction equipment and reduce construction industry emissions.
• The partnership will focus on charging infrastructure, energy management solutions, and site-wide system integration.
• The collaboration aims to help customers transition toward zero-emission construction sites through integrated technologies and services.

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) and Hitachi Energy have announced a new partnership aimed at helping the construction sector reduce its environmental impact through the adoption of electric technologies.

The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore and develop integrated solutions that support the deployment of electric construction equipment and the creation of zero-emission construction sites. The initiative comes as the construction industry faces growing pressure to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve sustainability performance.

Under the agreement, Volvo CE and Hitachi Energy will work together to assess both technical and commercial opportunities related to construction site electrification. Their efforts will focus on creating a complete ecosystem that enables construction and manufacturing operations to function without direct emissions.

Read More: Concrete Buildings in Japan Act As Carbon Sinks: Study

The collaboration will examine several key areas, including power supply systems, charging infrastructure, energy management solutions, and the integration of electric machines into day-to-day site operations. The companies will also explore business models, market strategies, and long-term support services that can help customers adopt emission-free technologies more easily.

According to industry estimates cited by the companies, building operations are responsible for more than a quarter of global carbon dioxide emissions. The wider built environment contributes nearly 40% of energy-related emissions worldwide and generates around one-third of global waste. These figures highlight the scale of the challenge facing the sector and the importance of accelerating decarbonization in construction.

Demand for sustainable construction practices is also increasing. Governments, investors, and customers are placing greater emphasis on environmental performance, while regulations increasingly require developers to address emissions throughout project planning and execution.

Melker Jernberg, President of Volvo CE, said strategic partnerships are essential to speeding up the transition toward cleaner construction operations. He noted that combining expertise from both companies can provide customers with a reliable and comprehensive pathway to adopt emission-free technologies.

A major challenge facing the industry is moving beyond individual electric machines and creating fully operational zero-emission construction sites. This requires coordinated planning across equipment, charging systems, power infrastructure, and energy management platforms.

Hitachi Energy believes that electrification will play a critical role in reducing emissions in sectors that have traditionally been difficult to decarbonize. As construction operations become increasingly dependent on electric technologies, effective system integration will be vital to ensuring efficiency and reliability.

Niklas Persson, CEO of Grid Integration at Hitachi Energy, said that successful construction site electrification depends on collaboration and strong execution rather than individual technologies alone. He added that partnerships such as this can help scale up emission-free construction practices across the industry.

Also Read: Carbon & Emissions Accounting: Tracking, Reporting, and Software

By combining expertise in electric construction equipment, power infrastructure, and energy management solutions, Volvo CE and Hitachi Energy aim to provide customers with the tools needed to tackle construction industry emissions and accelerate the shift toward a more sustainable future.

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Source: SustainabilityMAGAZINE