Norra Djurgårdsstaden, a large area in Stockholm will be built and fossil-free by 2030

Fredrik Bergman, Project Manager for the implementation of Norra Djurgårdsstaden, has been involved in the project since 2011.

How large is this area going to be?

Bergman: “When the project is completed in 2030, there will be over 12,000 new homes and 35,000 new jobs here. So far, around 3,200 homes and 16,000 sq. m. of office/commercial space have been completed so there is still some way to go. 55 different constructors have already started or are going to start construction work. But it is all going according to plan - the planning started already in the late 1980s with a view to possibly locate the Olympic village here. The planning phase of Norra Djurgårdsstaden began in 2001. To achieve the fossil free goal set by the City of Stockholm, the thermal power station will use bio-based fuel, all roofs will have solar panels, there will be charging points for electric cars and fossil free fuel in vehicles where it is possible to influence.”

An incredible number of parts have been pieced together to make this project sustainable. But if we focus on traffic and vehicles?

Bergman offers further details: “When it comes to our own freight movements with heavy goods vehicles, we are talking about 100,000 shipments per year in and out of the area. To minimise the number of shipments, we have a Debris Logistics Centre for rock and soil, and a Construction Waste Logistics Centre for building materials, where loads are coordinated to reduce the number of journeys, and when you include waste management, this means we reduce the number of trips by around 50%."

What about all the private construction companies and their transport needs?

Bergman again: “They are included in the coordination I mentioned, but to date, there has been no requirement for their transport to be fossil free. There have been discussions about making this the case.”

Are you going to make demands on the use of private cars by residents in the area?

“That is a challenge. On the one hand, we are trying to minimise the use of private cars, by offering good public transport, safe cycle storage, cycle lanes etc. And our development only allows for about one parking space for every two homes, so only one in two households can have a car. We are excavating rock to build underground parking, to minimise the number of cars above ground - there will be about 1,600 underground parking spaces in Hjorthagen. More parking spaces are planned in Värtahamnen. Possibly the most important part is obviously that our fuel providers have a fuel station where anyone can fill up with fossil free HVO100, and that we communicate the importance of being fossil free.”

What made you decide on Neste MY Renewable Diesel (HVO100) as your fossil free solution?

Bergman refers the question to Per Erik Österlund, a fuel expert at The City of Stockholm Environment Agency.
Österlund explains: “We have specified in our procurement process that our own vehicles are only supposed to run on renewable diesel in the area. The City of Stockholm aims to be a fossil free organisation by 2030, and the construction sector and infrastructure are big users of fossil energy. Achieving fossil free development is a challenge for our City and Norra Djurgårdsstaden has been chosen to lead the way in this. As a procurement requirement, we specify fossil free diesel or biodiesel, free from palm oil. By offering spaces for fuel facilities, we also want to be able to offer developers the opportunity to use fossil free fuel. We awarded two companies Energifabriken and Qstar Energi (ex Swea Energi), sites in Norra Djurgårdsstaden, and their fuel that meets our requirements is Neste MY Renewable Diesel HVO100.”

On a final note, Mr Bergman, what will it take for this inspiring project to be successful?

“Please allow me to finish with a quote from our Sustainability Strategist Christina Salmhofer, that I fully endorse: “If we are going to achieve ambitious sustainability goals, this will require new business models and combinations of technology solutions. And above all, courage, commitment and cooperation between all parties involved."

About Norra Djurgårdsstaden:
Norra Djurgårdsstaden in Greater Stockholm will embrace over 12,000 new homes and provide 35,000 new jobs when it is completed around 2030.
The ambitious goals set by the City of Stockholm to build a fossil free urban area are described here: www.norradjurgardsstaden2030.se