The non-binding green deal agreement for emission-free construction sites was published in autumn 2020. The goal of the agreement is to reduce emissions from contracting entities’ construction sites over a long period of time. So far, the agreement has been signed by six major public contracting entities. Anyone can apply the principles of the concept without being a green deal member, but working with others provides more impactful results which are easier for organisations to anticipate.

This solution is right for you if

• you are in charge of construction at a green deal member organisation or work as an expert in construction projects and you are looking for more information about environmental criteria;

• you work in an expert role at a non-green deal member organisation and you are looking for examples or more information about environmental criteria;

• you work as a contractor and you want to learn more about emission-free methods to apply on a construction site; or

• you want to learn more about monitoring and verifying the machinery and equipment used on emission-free work sites.

BASIC FACTS

• Project parties: KEINO Competence Centre for Sustainable and Innovative Public Procurement, City of Helsinki, City of Espoo, City of Vantaa, City of Turku, Senate Properties, Helsinki Region Environmental Services HSY
• New public sector organisations are encouraged to join the Agreement on a broad front.
• Time frame: 2020-2030

The green deal agreement for emission-free construction sites launched a long-term joint development project towards less emissions from construction sites

Made between the Ministry of the Environment and public contracting entities, the Agreement contributes to Finland’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2035. Procurement decisions can have an impact on a significant proportion of emissions from construction sites and support the achievement of the target of net zero carbon. The green deal agreement focuses on emission category requirements for heavy machinery and transport as well as promoting low-emission motive power types. The purpose of the agreement is to increase the proportion of low-emission heavy machinery and to promote the introduction of new practices and tools both on construction sites and in procurement processes.

The concept supports the achievement of the agreement’s targets while helping other organisations reduce emissions

The concept of emission-free construction sites has been drawn up as part of the green deal agreement for emission-free construction sites and the HNRY project. The concept supports the implementation of the green deal agreement, but it can also be used by non-green deal members.

The concept provides an overview of principles and practices which are used to reduce emissions from construction sites. The goal of the concept is to reduce emissions, harmful exhaust gases and noise from construction sites. The concept does not cover aspects such as the carbon footprint of building materials or life cycle emissions from construction.

Where applicable, the concept of emission-free construction sites can be used for example in the following applications done in-house or contracted by contracting entities:

• in-house maintenance works;
• in-house building and construction (infrastructure and housing); and
• tendered maintenance works and projects.

A more detailed framework has been defined as part of the organisations’ own strategies and, for example, in the implementation plans of the contracting entities of the member organisations of the green deal agreement for emission-free construction sites.

The concept of emission-free construction sites supports the non-binding green deal agreement for emission-free construction sites made in 2020. Contracting entities which have not signed the Agreement can use the tools provided by the concept to reduce emissions from their construction sites.

There are three types of environmental requirements laid down in the concept:

1. Minimum requirements for heavy machinery based on the green deal agreement.
2. Methods to promote alternative motive power types (electricity, biogas, hydrogen).
3. Other environmental requirements, such as environmental management systems and contract-specific environmental plans.

The concept also contains guidelines and recommendations on how heavy machinery operators can adopt low-emission practices.

Great results through engaging in market dialogue and applying the principles of the concept

The concept does not include direct recommendations on which environmental criteria to adopt, and each organisation must adapt the content of the concept to fit their individual targets and market environment.

The development of the green deal agreement and the concept of emission-free construction sites was boosted by empirical knowledge gained from the low-emission pilot construction sites of the cities of Helsinki and Espoo. Information gained from the pilot projects has been used to develop specifics such as procurement criteria, monitoring, fleet lists and market dialogue. Organisations wishing to promote skills on emission-free construction sites can apply the concept’s environmental requirements and practices in any pilot projects or contracts they might have.

Each year, the member organisations of the green deal agreement for emission-free construction sites engage in joint market dialogues, in which they discuss the requirements and their scopes in more detail. By joining the green deal agreement for emission-free construction sites, contracting entities can participate in the joint development project.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• Goals are the first step towards the implementation stage and only the beginning of the long-term development work.

• Defining the final environmental criteria requires engaging in dialogue and working with companies. If necessary, there is room for adjustments to be made to ensure that the requirements are relevant and that they can be met.

• Anyone can apply the principles of the concept without being a green deal member, but working with others provides more impactful results which are easier for organisations to anticipate.

• Cities/municipalities/organisations can pick and choose the practices that best suit their procurement strategies and construction projects from the concept.

Publications

Concept of emission-free construction sites, version 1.0

The joint concept of emission-free construction sites and procurement criteria will be developed further as the progressive targets laid down in agreement are met. Member organisations provide training to their customers and other key target groups in the application of the principles of the concept of emission-free construction sites and joint procurement criteria.

The model explored ways to reduce carbon emissions from machines used in cargo port operations, using Vuosaari Harbour in Helsinki as an example. The key themes were low-carbon power sources, the contribution of different partners and the roadmap for reducing emissions from machine operations.

This solution is right for you if

• you are interested in ways and means of reducing carbon emissions from machines, especially in the context of cargo ports;

• you are working on reducing carbon emissions from port machines or port operations;
• you want to promote low-carbon machines in a company or in an industrial area.

BASIC FACTS

• Location: Vuosaari Harbour, Eastern Helsinki
• Time span: 2019–2021
• Organisers: Saara Pellikka from the City of Helsinki’s environmental services was responsible for implementing the concept in close cooperation with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the Port of Helsinki and the following key partners: Finnsteve Oy Ab, Steveco Oy, Multi-Link Terminals Ltd Oy, Oy M. Rauanheimo Ab / Oy Adolf Lahti Yxpila Ab, Container-Depot Ltd Oy / Arctic Container Oy, SA-TU Logistics Oy, Nurminen Logistics Oyj, Alfons Håkans, Konecranes Finland, Kalmar / Cargotec, Royal Terberg Group and Port of Gothenburg (reference site).

Companies interviewed to canvass their commitment and areas for development

The City of Helsinki’s environmental services interviewed companies in Vuosaari Harbour in late 2019 and early 2020 to explore areas for improvement in terms of reducing emissions from machines. A key finding was that companies want to reduce emissions from machinery, but new solutions need to be cost-effective and easy to operate in the port environment. Biofuels and electrification, in particular, were brought up as potential means to achieve this. A summary was prepared on the basis of the interviews, and the following measures were proposed:

1. Increasing companies’ understanding of new power sources and emissions reduction solutions that are suitable for port operations (including emission- and cost-efficiency).
2. Exploring the types of control measures that the Port of Helsinki could use to encourage companies that operate in the area to use new power systems, and assessing the infrastructure capacity and the necessary changes if a new source of power were to be adopted on a large scale.

The report describes how the emission targets for machines can be achieved

VTT examined measures that would reduce CO₂ emissions from the port’s machines by 60% by 2035 (in Finnish: Selvitys ja tiekartta Vuosaaren sataman työkoneliikenteen päästövähennyksille). The study suggests that measures should focus on straddle carriers and terminal tractors, as these types of machine were estimated to generate more than three-quarters of emissions from machines in the area.

It would seem impossible to meet the emission targets without some degree of electrification of the straddle carriers or use of renewable fuel. Electrification proved to be a cost-effective solution for energy-intensive machines with a high utilisation rate, such as straddle carriers. The power grid in the port area would appear to be sufficient for operating battery-operated straddle carriers and terminal tractors. The simultaneous operation of the port’s 33 straddle carriers would require approximately nine 600 kW fast charging points, which would mean an investment of approximately 3–5 million euros.

Incentives for the Port of Helsinki would include compensation for the additional cost of renewable fuel, a discount based on the utilisation rate of electrical machinery and leasing electrical machines and charging infrastructure to operators for testing purposes. The roadmap for emissions reductions in 2021–2035 was presented as a key output.

Piloting of new technologies is at the heart of the carbon roadmap

The carbon roadmap for machine logistics paves a way for the use of market-based low-carbon solutions in the Vuosaari Harbour area. It was proposed that a pilot project should be launched to make it easier for port operators to switch to fully electric machinery and start using renewable fuel so that they could learn how to use new technologies. Operators would test some electric machines, such as straddle carriers and terminal tractors, and the use of renewable fuel in machines of different ages would also be demonstrated in the project. The path to low-carbon machines would have three phases:

1. Pre-planning of the piloting project, 2021–2022
2. Piloting new technologies, 2022–2027
3. Gradual transition to market-based operations, 2027–2035

The roadmap was drawn up by VTT as part of the study and roadmap project on emissions reductions in Vuosaari Harbour.

Machinery emission calculation using a calculation model and training video

The Excel-based calculation model can be used to calculate the carbon emissions and total operating costs of machines and to compare the cost-effectiveness of emissions reduction with different power source options (EUR/tonnes of CO₂). The model takes into account both direct emissions (TTW, tank-to-wheel) and lifecycle emissions (WTW, well-to-wheel) from machines. The model is particularly suitable for stevedoring companies that own port machinery, but it can also be applied to other types of machinery, provided that input data is added. The model has two parts:

• The generic model that calculates emissions and costs for an individual year.
• The scenario model that includes the generic model and also calculates emissions for 2019–2035.

The calculation model and an introductory video have been made by VTT as part of the study and roadmap project on emissions reductions in Vuosaari Harbour.

Training video on the use of the model for calculating emissions and costs generated by machines (in Finnish):

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• The port environment has special requirements and offers opportunities for measures to reduce emissions from machines.

• The most suitable emissions reduction solutions are found by optimising them according to how much a machine is used and how practical as well as emission- and cost-efficient they are.

• Piloting would make it possible to find the most efficient technologies, operating methods and service models for the port environment, and it would pave the way for the launch of new low-carbon solutions to the market.

Construction sites not only cause significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions but also harmful local emissions. The boulevard of Kulosaaren puistotie was one of the pilot sites in the emission-free infrastructure construction sites project of the City of Helsinki. The objective of these pilot sites was to reduce emissions from construction sites. The machinery and equipment used on the site included four fully electric heavy machinery units, while the rest of the machinery was powered by renewable HVO diesel.

This solution is right for you if

• you buy infrastructure construction services;
• you represent an infrastructure company/contractor; or
• you want to reduce emissions from your organisation’s construction sites.

BASIC FACTS

• Location: Helsinki, Kulosaari – the boulevard of Kulosaaren puistotie was converted into a shared in-roadway bikeway, becoming part of the Itäbaana express bike route, one of the main bike routes to the city centre
• Time frame: 12/2019 (dialogue with the market) – 4/2021 (project completion)
• Project parties: City of Helsinki, Urban Environment Division, Housing and Environment; contractor: VM Suomalainen Oy

A carbon-neutral Helsinki can only be achieved by also reducing emissions from construction sites

Emissions from heavy machinery and equipment used on construction sites as well as heavy goods vehicles account for a significant proportion of carbon dioxide emissions generated in cities and municipalities. Moreover, they also generate harmful local emissions, particles and noise that impair air quality in the area. In densely built urban environments, the harmful effects of construction sites are even greater.

Despite this backdrop, current legislation does not give decision-makers enough power to address construction sites’ harmful effects on climate and health, and greenhouse gas emissions caused by heavy machinery and equipment are not regulated. The City of Helsinki has recognised this issue, and one of the goals of the Carbon-neutral Helsinki 2035 Action Plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from construction sites with initiatives such as piloting the use of emission-free heavy machinery and equipment in the City’s infrastructure projects.

The City of Helsinki has also actively participated in international campaigns and projects to promote emission-free construction sites. European cities have exchanged information and experiences for example in the Zero-Emission Construction Sites working group of the Big Buyers Initiative funded by the European Commission and in the E-ZEMCONS project funded by EIT Climate-KIC.

Engaging in market dialogue to ensure a successful tender process

The City of Helsinki launched the market dialogue on zero-emission infrastructure construction sites and the preparation of the procurement criteria in December 2019. A joint market dialogue event with the stakeholders was followed by one-to-one discussions with several infrastructure contractors. Market representatives provided valuable information about aspects such as the current condition of the fleet and the availability of electric heavy machinery and equipment, and they also confirmed the use of the proposed minimum requirements.

Spring 2020 saw the finalisation of the criteria to be used in the tender and, more widely, in the zero-emission construction site pilot project and on low-emission infrastructure construction sites. The invitation to tender for the pilot project of the boulevard of Kulosaaren puistotie was published in May 2020.

Contract documentation was being drawn up at the same time with the preparation of the green feal agreement for emission-free construction Sites. The requirements laid down in the invitations to tender for the City of Helsinki’s infrastructure contracts are more ambitious than the current requirements of the green deal agreement, which defines a joint minimum level, while cities have the option to impose stricter criteria at a faster pace.

Trialling zero-emission solutions on the construction site of the boulevard of Kulosaaren puistotie

Launched in July 2020, the conversion of the boulevard of Kulosaaren puistotie into a shared cycle lane is a pilot project in which greenhouse gas emissions and harmful local emissions generated on the site were reduced using concrete methods. The equipment fleet used on the site consisted of four fully electric heavy machinery units (three 4.2-tonne loaders and one mini excavator), while the rest of the equipment, apart from a few exceptions, was powered by renewable HVO diesel.

The other fossil-free fuels allowed to be used on the site were biogas, hydrogen, ethanol and renewable fuel oil. The heavy machinery was at least Stage IV compliant, while heavy goods vehicles were compliant with the Euro VI emission standards. Light equipment (equipment with a maximum power of 4 kW) was required to be primarily powered by electricity. The electricity used on the site was required to be produced from renewable energy sources, and heating on the site had to be based on district heating, fossil-free biofuels or green electricity. In addition, the contractor was required to have obtained environmental certification. The use of electric heavy machinery and equipment was encouraged by awarding the most economically advantageous quality scores (in which the price accounts for 70% and quality for 30%) for a maximum of five electric heavy machinery units.

The list of equipment used in the project was updated whenever new machinery and equipment was brought to the site. The consumption of fuel and electricity on the site was reported monthly in site meetings. The customer and contractor developed monitoring and reporting together.

Positive experiences pave the way for future projects

When the majority of the Kulosaari project had been completed, the HNRY project team produced a rough calculation of the emissions generated during the project compared to a project based on traditional solutions. The calculation was based on fuel and electricity consumption and equipment uptime data obtained from the contractor. The calculation showed that, thanks to the solutions used on the site, the emissions from the site were about 42% of the emissions of a similar project carried out using traditional solutions. The amount of emissions that were prevented was over 106 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, or the annual carbon footprint of roughly ten people living in Finland.

Principles of zero- and low-emission construction sites have already been utilised on several infrastructure construction sites of the City of Helsinki. Encouraged by the success of the pilot projects, all tendered infrastructure construction sites of the City of Helsinki have been based on low-emission solutions since the summer of 2020. The experiences have primarily been positive, and it seems that having low-emission criteria in the requirements has had very little impact on companies’ motivation to participate in tenders or their pricing. In 2021, the City of Helsinki aims to apply the principles of zero-emission constructions sites compliant with the Green Deal agreement to all of its tendered infrastructure, construction and maintenance projects.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• Engaging stakeholder groups and active market dialogue are focal points for formulating functional and suitably ambitious purchasing criteria.
• The ambition of the City of Helsinki to cut down the emission levels is shared within the infrastructure companies and the goals are to be realized through the procument requirements.
• Different types of collaboration platforms are recommendable for sharing the experiences and lessons learnt.
• Having an open mind is worthwhile – you learn by doing and the pace of development might surprise.

The size of a company’s environmental footprint depends on its operating models and work methods. This concept examines the various ways in which simulation environments enable new types of training for using machinery, developing techniques and ways to minimise environmental impacts.

This solution is right for you if

• your company uses machinery or produces logistics solutions;
• you are interested in simulation environments and their use for learning purposes;
• your job involves planning training activities or you are interested in improving work methods.

BASIC FACTS

• Simulation training is suitable for all companies that use machinery and develop logistics solutions
• Simulation training in a virtual environment creates resource-wise and environmentally sustainable solutions to meet companies’ training and development requirements
• Simulation-based training solutions are already available and are expected to evolve in the coming years
• The concept is implemented by:
  • University of Turku, Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC), Essi Silvonen
  • The HNRY project’s transport and logistics solutions forums
  • The practical applications have been evaluated in cooperation with ADE Oy

New resource-wise ways to boost emissions reductions

It is essential to find work methods that can be changed to reduce emissions and act in a more resource-wise manner. Reductions made by changing the activities of an individual employee may be small, but the cascade effects resulting from a systematic change become significant in the context of industrial areas.

The principles of carbon neutrality and resource wisdom go hand in hand with health and safety. The principles can be incorporated into professional qualifications and, consequently, they become part of the required techniques. Employees also learn to see and develop their activities in terms of environmental criteria.

The purpose of this concept is to reduce the energy used by machinery; this is achieved by minimising energy loss in operations, streamlining practices, shortening transitions as well as optimising loads and the use of storage capacity. These operational efficiency goals are common and shared by companies. The concept examines how training activities using simulations in virtual environments can help to achieve these goals.

Resource-wise learning will take place in virtual environments

Virtual environments have evolved over the years and are expected to continue to do so. They are used more commonly, and the number of applications designed for educational purposes has also increased. Most training courses are held at educational institutions, but some are also organised in industrial areas. Competence assessment and training play an important role when it comes to recruiting and placing new staff as well as in maintaining and developing current staff’s skills.

Training in a simulation environment has a much lighter impact on the environment than training in a real environment. It allows for the assessment of skills and practising and refining of new skills as required without causing a significant environmental burden.

Methods of using machinery can be improved in virtual simulation training

There are already virtual training solutions that focus on topics such as transporting machines, their safe use and deployment. These solutions are also connected to an industrial area’s carbon neutrality and resource wisdom, which is why it is interesting to see how simulation training can support emissions reduction and resource-wise techniques. The focus is primarily on machines and how they are used in industrial areas, but similar principles also apply to other activities in these areas. Resource-wise work methods can be developed through measures such as training courses on the environmental footprint, skills assessments, training and certification of new employees’ skills, further training and maintaining professional skills, minimising machines’ fuel/energy consumption and planning and optimising work and material flows in the industrial area.

How is simulation training organised in practical terms?

We use the virtual training centre developed by ADE Oy as an example. It can be located either on a company’s premises, in an industrial area or on the premises of a local vocational training centre or other service provider. The virtual training centre is a modular package that consists of the hardware, software, virtual headset and special aids required in the particular course. It is in constant contact with a control room, which provides technical support as well as assessment and approval of skills certification.

The virtual environment offers a variety of exercises from among which attendees choose the ones they need. There is also a test environment in which performances can be evaluated. The virtual training centre is a service with a monthly fee, which varies from a few hundred euros upwards, depending on the number of training modules. Virtual environments and simulation-based training courses are already available on various cranes, vehicles, fire safety, logistics operational safety, operations on construction sites and customer service situations.

See a more detailed presentation of the virtual training centre:

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• Virtual environments provide easy and cost-effective ways to organise training. The number of available courses is increasing and the scope of their content is expanding.

• The virtual training centre provides a resource-wise way to organise inductions for new staff, offer further training for current staff and to maintain professional skills.

• Virtual solutions and environments are not only suitable for training individuals but they also make it possible to provide larger virtual learning packages, in which a model of an industrial area or parts of it can be recreated in a virtual environment. This can be used to plan new work methods and assess the best way to implement changes and how they affect the operations as a whole.

• Virtual environments can be used to implement and simulate the progress of a construction site and the environmental footprint during construction, and they can also be used as tools for planning construction projects so that they are as resource-wise as possible.

In order to effectively monitor the carbon neutrality and resource wisdom measures of industrial areas, emission calculations and monitoring tools must be continuously developed and applied. Emission reductions achieved in industrial areas are significant in view of the climate targets of their adjacent cities as the targets cannot be met without a contribution from businesses.

This solution is right for you if

• you are looking for general information on measurement and calculation methods related to carbon neutrality and resource wisdom targets for industrial areas and construction sites.

BASIC FACTS

• Location: emission-free construction site pilot in Espoo and Helsinki, Vuosaari Harbour, Blue Industry Park in Turku, energy efficiency project in Vantaa
• Implemented by: participants in the HNRY project (Carbon-neutral and resource-wise industrial areas project)

Emission reductions in industrial areas are important for the climate targets of the participating cities

The cities have set ambitious climate targets, and they aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. When a city aims for carbon neutrality, it means that emissions produced within that area are reduced to a set level (e.g. 80% of the level of 1990) and the remaining emissions are compensated.

With regard to resource wisdom, cities aim for long-term targets that are based on EU targets (by 2040). Becoming resource-wise requires close interaction and development work, including in the management of materials and logistics, between the different project participants. For example, possibilities for resource-wise and energy-efficient use of construction machinery were reviewed at Vuosaari Harbour. There is also massive potential in materials recovery and intensifying circular economy as the plastic pilot project showed.

Basis and scope of emission calculations

The state and municipalities base their emission calculations on production or area. They include all greenhouse gas emissions produced within the set area (Scope 1) and emissions from the production of energy purchased from an outside source (Scope 2). When measuring the carbon neutrality of an individual business, the calculation can focus on direct GHG emissions (Scope 1), such as the use of fuels in energy production and in vehicles, and on indirect GHG emissions (Scope 2), such as emissions from the production of purchased electricity and district heating. The rest of the emissions are compensated (Scope 4).

For industrial areas, it is best to base the calculation on consumption so that emissions from the production, transport and disposal of products and services produced and consumed within the industrial area during a set period of time (Scope 3) are taken into consideration. An example of a consumption-based calculation can be found in the concept of emission-free construction sites for the Lukutori construction site.

Emission-free construction site – calculation scope and tools

Constructions sites usually have clear boundaries within which direct emissions are produced. Maintenance sites are not as clearly defined. Materials, fuels and purchased electricity mainly come from outside these boundaries. The scope of the emission calculation for a construction site depends on which processes are identified as most significant in terms of emissions.

In the Lukutori pilot project in Espoo, the majority of emissions were identified as being indirect emissions. The consumption-based calculation used also factored in emissions from the use and production of the fuel in the machinery, the production of batteries and electricity used for electricity-powered machinery, the production of electricity used for on-site power generation and the production and transport of materials used on site.

The emission calculation for the Kulosaari pilot construction site in Helsinki included emissions from the production of fuels (including biofuel) used in construction machinery as well as emissions from the production of electricity used by machinery and the construction site.

The lack of an established monitoring system has made it difficult to monitor the data needed for emission calculations. The parties to the Green Deal agreement for emission-free construction sites are in the process of developing a monitoring tool to be introduced by the end of 2022. The introduction of the monitoring tool and new practices will require contractors and machinery operators to be trained in order to ensure the quality of the data collected.

Data and tools for measuring and monitoring the climate action of industrial areas

An extensive overview on the factors affecting the resource wisdom and carbon neutrality of an industrial area has been drawn up and included in the Turku Blue Industry Park Guide. The scale does matter as energy-efficiency investments and the energy production of an entire industrial area or a cluster of businesses can bring significant emission reductions. An area can even become climate positive.

A pilot project that trained individual companies using company-specific customised content also produced training material for public use. Company training can be used to raise awareness of emission sources, assist with calculations and the implementation of climate measures.

In Espoo and Helsinki, the emissions of an emission-free construction site were compared to those from an “ordinary” construction site. The sustainable procurement Green Deal agreement for emission-free construction sites will help to harmonise practises and introduce monitoring tools for contracting entities.

Municipalities’ emission calculations tend to follow common guidelines but individual organisations and companies can apply such varying scopes and methods for calculating indirect emissions that it compromises the comparability of the results. There is a need for harmonisation, and this is why the experience gained during projects should be put into practice more widely.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• The most sensible emission calculation method for an industrial area is consumption-based calculation.
• It is important to maintain the transparency of the calculation method and the reasons for the set scope.
• There is a need for methods to be harmonised, and therefore the experience in calculation methods and tools gained during projects should be actively put into practice more widely.

When building a carbon-neutral and resource-wise industrial area, it is necessary to take into account not only the planning but also the construction of the area and its day-to-day operations. The Blue Industry Park is an area that is gradually being built beside the Turku Shipyard, and it will be a functioning ecosystem of manufacturing industries and service operators. It takes the expertise and willing of all companies to achieve resource wisdom and carbon neutrality in the area.

This solution is right for you if

• you operate in the supply chain of Turku Shipyard;
• you operate in a manufacturing industry supply chain;
• you want to streamline your supply chain operations;
• you are planning a carbon-neutral and resource-wise industrial area;
• you are a contractor or developer in a carbon-neutral and resource-wise industrial area;
• you are a public operator, such as a planning officer, and you want to know how carbon neutrality and resource wisdom are implemented.

BASIC FACTS

• Location: Perno district, Turku. Next to Turku Shipyard.
• Industrial area life cycle: planning phase
• Organiser: Blue Industry Park Oy.
• Time span: 5–10 years from 2021 onwards.
• The maritime industry network in southwestern Finland employs 11,000 people.
• The value of Turku Shipyard’s order book in Q1/2021 is EUR 6.5 billion, cruise ship deliveries until 2026.

Towards a sustainable future

Blue Industry Park is a close-knit and diverse community of companies and research institutes, which are leading the change. There are no limits to its growth opportunities. The scalable spaces and shared resources provided in the area reduce the need for non-essential investments and enable business development in a sustainable and commercially viable manner. The community is responding to megatrends of production modularity and circular economy on a scope never seen before.

New technologies and cooperation are prerequisites for success

The concept guidelines do not provide ready-made solutions for the future, but they encourage all parties to share their expertise to achieve the shared goal. For the area to be successful, the best and most sustainable technologies and operating models available must be applied in every phase and solution.

The guidelines cover solutions for design and civil engineering, buildings and operations as well as transport.

Blue Industry Park’s ecosystem also includes service companies such as occupational health care, lunch restaurants and a visitor centre. Renewable energy sources are preferred, of course, and carbon neutrality is achieved by combining several solutions.

Research collaboration with universities

It is valuable for companies operating in the area that there are four institutes of higher education in Turku with research related to the maritime industry and maritime logistics. Blue Industry Park is a platform for productive cooperation in research projects and the supply of skilled labour both now and in the future.

The universities in Turku cover disciplines that are relevant to planning and building the area, such as energy technology, structural engineering, circular economy, economics and industrial management engineering.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• The area’s location in relation to existing transport links and major customers is essential to minimise emissions from transport.
• When building the area, the use of land masses in the region and the area under construction must be optimised so that unnecessary transportation and costs can be avoided.
• Renewable energy production, transmission and storage solutions need to be considered at the planning phase.
• The flexibility and modularity of the facilities improve their occupancy rate and cost efficiency.
• Sharing machinery and equipment makes it easier to adopt new eco-friendly technologies and reduces the number of equipment needed in the area.
• There must be a leader with a clear role to create an area that runs on synergy and cooperation.

Climate targets adopted by also cities require quick action to reduce emissions from the machinery and equipment used in construction and maintenance. Developing sustainable procurement strategies within the city is a multi-phase process requiring coordination, better understanding and cooperation within the industry and between partner cities.

This solution is right for you if

• your city is in the process of developing emission-free work sites and joining the Green Deal Agreement;
• you want to learn more about how emissions from heavy machinery are linked to cities’ climate targets and climate protection; or
• you are in charge of your organisation’s procurement, make purchases for projects in urban environments or coordinate projects related to sustainable procurement or work sites.

BASIC FACTS

• Location: Turku
• Organisers: Urban Environment Division and Central Administration of the City of Turku, Motiva, Valonia
• Time frame: 5/2019–5/2021

Reducing work site emissions is important for achieving climate targets

Heave machinery is used on building and infrastructure construction sites, and cities are planning to achieve significant reductions in the particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions from these heavy-duty vehicles. According to the City of Turku’s 2018 climate report, heavy machinery and industries accounted for approximately 8% of the city’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. This rate has grown and continues to grow, proportionally, because the rates of the other largest emission sources, or energy and traffic, have started to go down.

The City of Turku has an ambitious goal of becoming climate neutral by 2029, which requires quick and systematic solutions. Working together with other cities and Motiva under the Emission-free Work Sites − the Green Deal for Sustainable Procurement Agreement has provided support and the framework for introducing the targets to the city’s different Divisions and for developing procurement criteria.

Following Oslo’s example and launching planning projects

In the HNRY project, emission-free work sites have been benchmarked in Oslo, a pioneer in using electric machinery on work sites. The site visit to Oslo provided practical information about the parameters and possibilities of using electric machinery on work sites in city centres. For example, providing electricity to the machinery is easier when the site is located near an electricity network with sufficient capacity. 

Adopting new practices requires time and planning

Constructors are trying to quickly enter the era of energy efficiency and fossil-free energy. Reducing work site emissions requires established practices to be adjusted at the same time across different areas both within cities and in the operations of construction and machinery companies. 

Electric heavy machinery and the criteria for emission-free work sites have already been piloted elsewhere in the campaign, but Turku has focused on working from the ground up as it plans to adopt the procurement criteria after the project has ended. 

Turku case – process description to help other cities plan how to proceed

Turku’s process, from benchmarking and working with other HNRY partner cities and Motiva to the first discussions with the market stakeholders on the principles of emission-free work sites, provides an interesting example to other similar-sized cities with projects of the same type.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• Cities and project structures are different; do not expect progress to be identical.
• Commitment alone is not enough – a lot must be done to achieve permanent practical changes.
• Working together is power, and examples help others to avoid pitfalls.
• Changes must be fair and equal to all parties involved.
• Other cities, both in Finland and abroad, are interested in examples from pilot work sites.

We studied the use of clay as a component in an aggregate product that could be used in land development while reducing the climate impact of construction. The use of clay as a production material could potentially reduce emissions and costs caused by the transportation of clay and production of virgin materials for construction.

This solution is right for you if

• you work with geotechnics or mass coordination;
• you are a developer in an area with a large number of clay pits (capital and coastal regions) and a fast growing city with many construction projects; or
• you plan business operations that use industrial side streams and waste heat.

BASIC FACTS

• The location of the industrial area. Construction site, landfill. Concept implemented by the city of Espoo and its Public Works Department and Environment Centre. Ramboll acts as consultant.
• Duration: from October 2020 onwards. The study on clay is ongoing as a collaborative development effort coordinated by the Espoo Public Works Department.
• The city of Espoo provides the framework for the new circular economy-based business and brings together expertise, market knowledge and different interest groups.

The majority of the soil brought to the Kulmakorpi landfill is clay

Transferring surplus clay from construction sites to landfills creates both costs and emissions. Within our project, Espoo has tried to find a solution to the problem by looking into ways to process surplus clay produced across the capital region into a lightweight expanded clay aggregate. One of the central themes of circular economy is resource efficiency, which means the most efficient possible use and reuse of exiting materials. By using surplus clay, we can prevent the acquisition of virgin materials and the resulting climate and environmental impacts.

Our study on clay included basic research, test-baking clay from Espoo, a workshop and final report

In the study, the potential of clay as a raw material was examined while taking into account both production factors and market potential. The study examined, for example, the characteristics of clay with regard to thermal processing, potential forms of production and energy sources, applications for use and market potential.

Preliminary research consisted of expert interviews and discussions. The actual study included the examination of data and a workshop. During the workshop, the results from the preliminary research were further discussed, the Åbo Akademi University presented the results and conclusions of their thermal treatment testing, interest in the topic among operators in the industry was reviewed and knowledge and experience in the use of surplus clay was gathered from interest groups.

The thermal processing methods of clay are based on drying and burning. The treatment temperature and the physical and chemical properties of clay determine the properties of the final product. The expansion of clay is essential in the production of products such as lightweight expanded clay aggregate. The properties indicating expansion potential were found to include clay content, water content, dry unit weight and the quantity of organic material. Preliminary research on clay plays an important role in identifying the clay types suitable for production and ensuring smooth further processing. Preliminary research should be included in construction planning as early in the process as possible.

The market potential of a product is based on demand, i.e. the application potential and price in relation to similar products

Recycled lightweight expanded clay aggregate production can be divided into three “production lines”: 1) recycled lightweight expanded clay aggregate which does not meet the requirements of traditional lightweight expanded clay aggregates; 2) clay aggregate from crushed “burnt” clay; and 3) embankment clay, which is dried clay. Clay aggregate and embankment clay are terms used for the purpose of the study and they do not correspond with any official classification or existing products. This type of product would be used like stone aggregate and is in competition with virgin stone aggregate and some recycled materials that are typically low-cost materials. This means that any new product must either have properties that the competing materials do not have or must be cheaper.

The use of surplus clay, or any other recycled materials, requires communication across different sectors and extensive prior research

Our study on clay provides a preliminary overview of the potential of surplus clay as a raw material across the capital region. Research on the suitability of local clay types for thermal treatment provides basic information on the properties of these clays but a more detailed analysis of production or production potential requires further examination and studies. The use of clay in several different production lines or transportation of suitable clay raw material to an aggregate plant require further investigation. The discussions sparked by our study are the primary medium for exploring alternatives, altering practices identified as preventing the use of surplus clay and integrating resource sustainability as part of the construction industry.

With the current cost structure, producing recycled lightweight expanded clay aggregate or a similar product is more expensive than acquiring virgin stone aggregate. The cost structure of an aggregate product depends on how the costs of other uses of surplus clay are taken into account and how much saving natural materials and recycling are valued. Carbon dioxide emissions from materials may become a significant factor in procurement alongside cost and technical suitability. However, before the current conditions change, public operators play a key role in enabling the use of clay and providing potential sites for applications.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• In order to launch the production of clay aggregate, we need a collaborative ecosystem in which operators in different sectors develop business opportunities around circular economy together.
• The profitability of using clay as a raw material in production is primarily determined by the market potential of the product or products and the cost structure of the production plant.
• In future procurements, the carbon footprint of products may become the decisive factor alongside cost.
• In addition to permits, such as environmental permits, the classification of clay as waste is a significant factor affecting the planning of production.

The invitation to tender for the pilot construction site of Lukutori Square in Espoo included new and updated environmental criteria with the goal to reduce emissions from the construction site and transport. At the same time, the project team also piloted green procurement strategies by developing zero-emission practices used on the site and promoting resource wisdom through actions such as using Finnish paving stones.

This solution is right for you if

• you are a public procurement expert;
• you are a contractor planning to purchase new machinery or equipment or to retrofit/convert your existing equipment to reduce emissions; or
• you work in urban planning and your goal is to achieve a carbon-neutral city.

Perustietoja

• Location of the industrial area: Lukutori Square, Suurpelto/Henttaa, Espoo
• Concept executed by: City of Espoo: Public Works Department and Environment Department.
• Time frame: 6/2020–12/2020.
• Project partners: VRJ Etelä-Suomi, Ramboll Finland, the Association of Finnish Technical Traders, Ramirent Finland, Loimaan Kivi, Kekkilä, Residents’ association of Suurpelto.
• The Lukutori project team also piloted the principles of the Green Deal Agreement for Sustainable Procurement and Zero-emission Construction Sites, which was made between the Ministry of the Environment, the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa and Turku and Senate Properties in the autumn of 2020.
• In public procurement, invitations to tender may not list ‘Made in Finland’ as a selection criterion, but environmental declarations, such as EPD, are allowed. Based on life cycle analysis, Environmental Product Declaration, or EPD, is a voluntary and standardised declaration that reliably presents the essential and verified information about the environmental impact of a manufactured product or product range in a comparable manner.

Procurement criteria promoting carbon neutrality and compliant with the Finnish procurement act were used in the pilot project on the emission-free Lukutori Square construction site

The site selected for the pilot project was the new central square and its adjacent streets in the district of Suurpelto in Espoo, as the scope of the contract was ideal for piloting new environmentally sound and sustainable procurement criteria. Stakeholders were invited to a market dialogue event where speakers talked about topics such as the construction industry’s climate targets and the availability of low-emission heavy machinery and equipment. After the event, contractors had the chance to participate in one-to-one discussions with the city. The purpose of the discussions was to analyse the contractors’ equipment fleet and their ability to make an offer based on the planned minimum criteria.

The invitation to tender was adjusted to include the minimum requirements for heavy machinery and heavy goods vehicles deemed realistic by the contractors and representatives of the heavy machinery industry, as well as emission-reducing construction site practices and the implementation of resource-wise strategies. The Lukutori Square pilot project challenged customers, contractors and other stakeholders to adopt new practices and strategies to build a better, carbon-neutral future. Successful criteria for contracting and equipment procurement and other emission-reducing principles and practices will be gradually introduced to all of Espoo’s construction sites, including building, infrastructure, renovation and demolition sites.

Adding new environmental minimum requirements to contracting tenders

The sustainable procurement process was adjusted by adding the requirement for using fossil-free biofuels, biogas or (green) electricity in the contractors’ heavy machinery and equipment. To help the contractor of the Lukutori site achieve the emission reduction target faster, the City of Espoo leased out a 4.2-tonne electric loader to be used on the site and granted the contractor a total maximum bonus of EUR 30,000.00 for using machinery and equipment powered by fossil-free fuels.

In the building contract programme of the pilot site, the contractor agreed to attend training on zero-emission construction sites to increase its understanding of how impactful and necessary the new operations and practices on the site can be. With more know-how, this also gives the contractor a competitive edge in future tenders.

The transport of paving materials was also taken into account in the minimum criteria for the procurement. The project team also piloted a real-time and site-specific solution supplied by Vediafi Oy that tracks and reports on emissions from transport. The pilot project’s costs do not increase when the procurement is evaluated over a longer period of time. More resources must be allocated to the planning and contracting tender stages of a construction project to ensure climate-positive results and quality requirements are achieved. The utilisation of digital solutions will need further research in future projects, as tracking the equipment and deliveries to and from the site requires more work and collecting information manually is practically impossible.

Principles of circular economy and resource wisdom put into practice on the Lukutori site thanks to EPD

To make sure the Lukutori site was resource-wise, the team used paving stones sourced from Finland instead of China, where the stones for infrastructure projects are usually imported from. This made it possible to reduce transportation emissions to the minimum. According to the Finnish public procurement act, requiring a product or material to be made in Finland is not allowed in the selection criteria, but the EPD value (Environmental Product Declaration) can now be used instead. Based on life cycle analysis, EPD is a voluntary and standardised declaration that reliably presents the essential and verified information about the environmental impact of a manufactured product or product range in a comparable manner. Using EPD as a selection criterion in public procurement is allowed.

The pilot site also applied principles of sustainable development laid down in the Espoo Story. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., an HNRY project partner, produced an emission assessment to determine how impactful the measures were.

Green Deal agreement for sustainable procurement and zero-emission construction sites in public procurement boosts development

The HNRY Project prepared the Green Deal agreement for sustainable procurement and zero-emission construction sites together with the Ministry of the Environment and the cities of Espoo, Helsinki, Vantaa and Turku. The Lukutori project team applied the criteria of the first target phase of the agreement where possible. The procurement criteria laid down in the Green Deal agreement takes into account aspects such as fossil-free motive power sources of heavy machinery and equipment, heavy goods vehicles and on-site electricity and heating as well as the development of lower-emission practices to be adopted on the site. Procurement practices in the public sector have the potential to have a huge impact on the amount of these emissions. At the same time, the public sector can pioneer the use of alternative motive power sources, boost demand and create the conditions for developing the market for low-emission solutions.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• The importance of market dialogue: engage contractors and other stakeholders as early as when planning the contracting tender. Each site has its own clear / most significant possibilities for emission reduction, and these should be examined together with the stakeholders to find the most cost-effective and practical solutions.
• With the help of information and genuine dialogue, prevailing attitudes in the construction industry can be influenced to increase awareness of climate matters quickly enough.
• Carbon-neutral construction techniques and strategies are not more expensive when the costs are analysed over a longer period of time and when the goal is to apply the principles of sustainable construction in other areas as well.
• Contractors and other stakeholders are well-informed and ready to take action; those in charge of public procurement must not hesitate to develop the procurement process and to demand more in terms of taking the environment into account and applying the principles of circular economy.

The success of the efforts to reduce emissions from the construction site of the Lukutori square in Espoo was evaluated through a carbon footprint assessment. Measures taken on the site were found to have had a significant impact on emission reduction: emissions from the construction of the Lukutori square were 25% of the emissions from a traditional construction site. The assessment can be used to set targets for the effective reduction of carbon footprint on construction sites and to define the measures that must be taken. It also makes it possible to examine emissions in a comprehensive manner and helps identify the most critical processes in terms of emission reduction goals.

This solution is right for you if

• you work in the procurement or construction division of a local authority; or
• you manage or represent a construction company and you are looking for new low-emission solutions.

BASIC FACTS

Project party: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd.

Contractor: VRJ Rakennus Oy

Pilot site: Lukutori square, Espoo

Time frame: 6/2020–11/2020

Emission calculations provide information about the area’s carbon footprint

The term carbon footprint is used to describe the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a product, activity or service. It tells us how much greenhouse gas emissions are generated during the life cycle of a product or service. When net greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, the carbon footprint of the activity becomes smaller. In a carbon-neutral society, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere by the society is the same as the amount it can capture, meaning that its net carbon footprint is zero. To be able to determine if an activity is carbon neutral, we must assess its carbon footprint throughout its entire life cycle.

Emissions calculations can be based on production or consumption. Production-based emissions calculations examine the emissions generated in a certain area, and this method is typically used to calculate the amount of emissions caused by different countries. The consumption-based approach, on the other hand, examines emissions caused by the manufacture, transport and disposal of the products or services produced and consumed, for example, by a certain community or area over a specific period of time. In the calculation of emissions from an industrial area, the consumption-based method produces more meaningful results and it is also widely used. As such, the calculations for this project were also made using the consumption-based approach.

Towards emission-free construction sites with carbon footprint calculations

The concept of carbon-neutral construction sites is divided into five phases, which are: 1) setting targets; 2) calculating current emissions; 3) identifying possibilities for carbon reduction; 4) drawing up the carbon reduction plan; and 5) implementing and verifying measures to reduce emissions.

In phase 2, the project team used the Greenhouse Gas Protocol¹, which is one of the world’s best-known and widely used calculation methods. In the calculation, emissions were divided into three scopes:

• Scope 1: direct greenhouse gas emissions, which are generated as a result of a company’s activities on site, or physically in its offices and production facilities.
• Scope 2: indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy, or emissions caused by the production of electricity, heating and cooling used by the company (if electricity is produced off site and the company buys it).
• Scope 3: indirect greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by the company’s activities. Indirect emissions are known as “upstream emissions”, which are the emissions that are caused by the manufacture of the products the company uses in its production processes and/or the emissions caused by the use and disposal of these products.

Impact of the concept on carbon neutrality and resource wisdom in the industrial area

Emissions from the pilot site were calculated using the method described above. The calculations covered the following aspects:

• Fuel consumption of heavy machinery and equipment and fuel production
• Emissions from transport, including fuel production
• Electricity production and batteries for electric heavy machinery and equipment
• Production of electricity consumed elsewhere on the site
• Materials used on the site
  • Dry concrete
  • Growing medium
  • Rocks
  • Crushed stone
  • Cube-shaped paving stones

To illustrate the relative significance of the emission reduction measures implemented on the Lukutori site, the project team compared two different scenarios in the calculation: the actual situation of Lukutori and a made-up comparison scenario, in which no solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions had been implemented. The comparison scenario was based on three assumptions: all heavy machinery was powered by fossil diesel fuel (the consumption of electric heavy machinery was calculated based on the horsepower and operating hours of equivalent machinery), the electricity used was the equivalent of an average Finnish electricity network, and the stone materials were imported from China.

The results showed that the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the Lukutori construction site were approximately 90 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, while emissions in the comparison scenario amounted to 360 tonnes. In other words, the emissions in the comparison scenario were about four times as high as the emissions from the Lukutori site. In the Lukutori project, the biggest savings were achieved through the use of Finnish rocks instead of rocks imported from China. Another significant factor was replacing fossil fuel-powered heavy machinery and equipment with electric machinery and equipment.

Since the Lukutori site was relatively small and the project duration short (approximately six months), concept phases 4 and 5 were not included in the pilot project. During these phases, the project team would have examined possibilities for emission reduction, drawn up a plan to implement and monitor these possibilities and prepared a closing report detailing how well the goals were achieved. Implementing the concept not only provides a set of tools to reduce emissions from an ongoing site, but also ideas and instructions for implementing low-emission alternatives on future construction sites.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES

• It is important to assess emissions in a comprehensive manner.
• Attention should be paid to the ambitiousness of emission reduction targets and actions.
• Significant emission reductions can be achieved by also taking materials into account.
• In addition to purchased materials, switching to electric heavy machinery and equipment is also an essential strategy to reduce emissions.