Sweco

The construction sector is racing to keep up with a surging demand for cement, which has almost tripled since the mid-1990s. This explosive growth underscores the industry's evolution and the pressing challenge it faces: how do we continue to meet global needs while drastically reducing our carbon footprint? “Cement is the binding agent that gives concrete its strength and concrete is the manufactured material that we use the most on the entire planet,” says Aaron Maltais, researcher at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). “We are talking about huge amounts, and the demand will just keep on increasing.”  So, what is the role of cement in clean-energy transitions? Innovative strategies are carving a path forward, with a focus on ramping up energy efficiency, utilising alternative materials and developing cutting-edge technologies for near-zero emissions. A prime example is Heidelberg Materials’ Brevik CCS facility in Norway, the world’s first cement factory with a CO2 capture plant. According to the current schedule, the first net zero cement is expected to be delivered in 2025. The goal is to establish a CCS plant more than four times as large in Sweden by 2030.   Click the link for more on the cement sector's green transition, the challenges it faces and Sweco’s role in these innovative CCS projects: https://lnkd.in/dAAMf-sk #SwecoGroup #TransformingSocietyTogether 

In a world where technology evolves at lightning speed, understanding what clients will seek in the future has become a crucial concern for businesses. This was one of the talking points when the Digital Expertise Program welcomed 29 new participants from each of Sweco’s business areas earlier this year. Digital Expertise Program alumni Nena Roes, team manager Urban Projects at Sweco Netherlands, and Caroline Söderberg, team manager Digital Management at Sweco Sweden held an engaging presentation and workshop on the subject. The discussion centred around two questions: What are clients asking for in the future? When do the digital solutions become a value?   Addressing this challenge, Nena and Caroline presented the following current trends, which they believe will shape client demand in the future: ▪ Data analytics and decision making – the decision-making processes will likely become more automated, with AI providing real-time insights and recommendations. ▪ Digitalisation and sustainability - digitalisation can enable better tracking and management of resources, leading to more sustainable practices. ▪ AI and Automation - advanced AI with robotics for more autonomous systems and smart infrastructure maintenance. ▪ Developing Together - collaboration platforms might evolve to include virtual and augmented reality, making remote teamwork more immersive and effective. ▪ Data Protection - as data becomes more integral to decision-making, robust data protection measures will be crucial. Click the link for more information about working at Sweco: https://lnkd.in/dsXjs-Sb #SwecoGroup #TransformingSocietyTogether

The pressure from new targets and legislation related to the green transition has gradually increased during the last decade. Investments in the industrial transformation towards sustainability and net-zero emissions are also growing, as industries worldwide recognise the need to address climate change. There are a number of reasons why this is happening right now. “Industry players are starting to notice the rising price of CO2 emissions. A lot of actors and countries have made the commitment to reach net zero, introducing new regulations and carbon dioxide duties, together with increasing demand in the value chain, increasing competition and, last but not least, the arrival of money, both state and private”, says Björn Nykvist, researcher at the Stockholm Environment Institute, SEI. Billions of euros have been invested in the green transition, yet there remains a gap between current investment levels and the amounts needed to achieve net zero. The industrial sector must accelerate its efforts and close this gap. Our latest article dives into the strategies and investments necessary to achieve a sustainable and climate-neutral industry, a challenge that's becoming a competitive race fuelled by policy, market forces and the flow of capital. Click the link for more information on the driving forces towards a net-zero industrial sector. https://lnkd.in/de7n3kEv    #SwecoGroup #TransformingSocietyTogether 

In the new report from Sweco's Urban Insight, ‘The race towards a green and resilient industrial sector’, experts take a deep dive into the leading sectors in the green transition, highlighting drivers, investments, and the latest technologies, as well as the potential new risks.    The industrial sector, responsible for 25-30% of global CO2 emissions, is at the heart of the green transition. Billions of euros have been invested in the green transition, regulations and capital are falling into place - but is it enough?    Sweco’s report covers the following key topics:  ▪ Regulations and capital are falling into place   ▪ The steel industry takes the lead, cement industry runner up  ▪ CCUS - a necessary complementary solution  ▪ The electrification revolution, spurred by renewables, hydrogen and batteries   ▪ Resource efficiency and circular industrial processes  ▪ Industrial symbiosis and new business models   Read more about insights and actions in the report ‘The Race towards a Green and Resilient Industrial Sector’. https://lnkd.in/djduqgVU   #SwecoGroup #UrbanInsight #IndustryTransformation 

🌍✨ In celebration of World Creativity and Innovation Day, we invite you to think outside of the box. At Sweco, we believe that the future of architecture and urban design lies in harmony with nature. Our latest blog post delves into the transformative power of biophilic design - a blend of aesthetics, sustainability, and wellness. Discover how we're aspiring to evolve from Ego to Eco and to shape spaces that not only exist but thrive in symbiosis with the natural world. 🌿 Join the conversation on how biophilic design can redefine our living and working environments for the better. Let's shape the eco-architectural landscapes of tomorrow, today. Explore our vision. #BeSweco #worldcreativityandinnovationday #biophilicdesign #regenerativearchitecture #creativesolutions  https://lnkd.in/eS5gXGQ3

Climate change and biodiversity loss challenge industry and the energy sector to find more sustainable ways of operating. Industry and the energy sector have a special responsibility to implement the transition to carbon-neutral energy production and circular economy without exacerbating biodiversity loss. Read more in the blog by Erik Skogström. https://lnkd.in/dSAXhWfM #greentransition #energytransition #swecofinland

🔬🌊 Sweco is partnering with OVAM to implement an innovative fingerprinting method that will enhance the quality of water and soil, aligning with our vision for a sustainable and livable future. This method will greatly improve how we identify pollution sources and hold them accountable, ensuring the "polluter pays" principle is effectively enforced. 🍃 Our team of experts is hard at work to analyze the unique chemical signatures of nearby companies and to develop scientifically robust reports. We're proud to participate in this scientific advancement for better environmental management. 🌿 Read how we make strides in safeguarding our precious waterbodies. #BeSweco #wellbeing #biodiversitynetgain #waterprotection https://lnkd.in/eQRv2i9e

During the last decade, the industrial sector has gone from slow movers to a green transition, which today can best be described as a race towards net zero. No-one wants to be left behind, neither companies nor countries. Produced by splitting water using renewable electricity, green hydrogen has been praised by many as the multi-tool of the energy transition for its potential to reduce carbon emissions, especially in hard-to-abate sectors. It offers significant business opportunities due to its efficient energy storage capabilities and low impact on the environment. Improved methods and increased access to renewable energy have made green hydrogen an even more lucrative option for innovation and growth. “Hydrogen is a significant trend, representing one of the key large-scale solutions with considerable potential, yet it is part of a broader array of options in the quest for sustainable energy,” says Erik Skogstrom, Division Director, Industry & Energy at Sweco Finland. But the journey to a hydrogen economy is not without its challenges, as 95% of hydrogen produced around the world is “grey hydrogen,” produced from fossil materials such as natural gas and coal.   Click the link to explore the potential of green hydrogen, the hurdles that persist and Sweco’s involvement in establishing Finland’s and the Netherlands’ first industrial-scale green hydrogen plants. https://lnkd.in/dc7kv5Ha    #SwecoGroup #TransformingSocietyTogether 

Sweco is part of an alliance that has been contracted to provide design services in a project for the first tramway to be established in the city of Turku in Finland, including the design of 19 new stations. The value of Sweco’s part of the project is approximately EUR 6 million. The new tramway will extend for approximately 12 kilometres with 19 stops from the harbour via the city centre to the Varissuo area. The tramway will increase the capacity of Turku’s public transport, accelerate the city’s growth and support the achievement of the city’s climate goals.  “We are excited to be involved in designing the new tramway in Turku. This is a comprehensive urban development project that will impact the development of the city, and its urban region, for decades to come. The establishment of a sustainable public transport system will contribute to Turku’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2029 and, in the future, becoming one of the world’s leading cities in the climate transition and in protecting nature,” says Thomas Hietto, President of Sweco Finland. The development phase will start in April 2024 and based on a preliminary estimation, construction will take place between 2026 and 2031. Passenger traffic is expected to start in the early 2030s. Read more about the project: https://lnkd.in/gnWS8wXh #TransformingSocietyTogether #SwecoGroup 

The industrial sector is tasked with the challenge of satisfying the world’s material needs without exceeding the available carbon budget. Four key materials—steel, cement, aluminium and plastics—are responsible for a majority of industrial CO2 emissions. Yet, with the adoption of circular practices, there is potential to cut these emissions from heavy industry by 56 per cent come 2050. “Circular economy is crucial when enhancing green transformation in the society. Circularity enables a new way of thinking as the linear economy needs to be left behind. Focusing only on recycling isn't sufficient action anymore— we need to adapt circularity to all our actions,” says Tomas Norrena, Development Manager, Circular Economy, at Sweco Finland. Looking towards the future, a substantial portion of the materials that the EU economy will needs in 2050 are already produced. Recirculating these materials will reduce C02 emissions and lower energy consumption. Circularity also presents the industrial sector with new opportunities. Products can become services, and new, competitive markets can arise from recycled materials. Click the link to read more about the role of circularity in the green transition, new business opportunities through circular strategies and Sweco’s services for the circular economy. https://lnkd.in/d9nZg9sa #SwecoGroup #TransformingSocietyTogether