How Nuremberg is setting a new standard for zero-emission municipal construction

At a former nursery site in the Westpark area of the city, electric construction equipment and battery electric trucks are being used to demolish the site, demonstrating that zero-emission demolition can be achieved using standard construction-site electricity and without specialized energy infrastructure.

The site is operated by Metzner Recycling GmbH, supported by Robert Aebi Nuremberg, and is using a fleet that includes a Volvo EC230 Electric crawler excavator, a Volvo ECR18 Electric compact excavator, and a Volvo L20 Electric compact wheel loader, alongside a Volvo Trucks’ FM Electric hook-lift truck.

A reference project for municipal climate action

For the City of Nuremberg, the demolition of the former nursery represents more than a construction project. It is a practical demonstration of how municipalities can use public procurement to accelerate the transition to lower-emission construction practices. By incorporating zero-emission requirements into the tender process, the city is showing how climate goals can be translated into concrete action.

Andreas Krieglstein, Mayor of Nuremberg, said: “With the CO₂-free demolition of the former Sauerbrey nursery, the City of Nuremberg is deliberately breaking new ground. This project exemplifies the responsibility municipalities must assume in addressing climate change. Sustainable action does not begin with construction projects; it starts with how we dismantle existing buildings.”

Proving zero-emission demolition works in practice

The zero-emission demolition project in Nuremberg was inspired by the world’s first fully electric deconstruction project at Siemens’ headquarters in Erlangen last year. Following a visit to the site, Nuremberg’s Public Space Service Agency (SÖR) recognized the potential of applying the same approach to municipal construction projects and launched Bavaria’s first public tender for a CO₂-free demolition project. In doing so, the city created a model that other municipalities can adapt to their own sustainability objectives.

What makes the Nuremberg project particularly significant is not only the technology being used, but the way it is being deployed. Rather than relying on dedicated charging infrastructure, the electric 

machines and vehicles are powered using standard construction-site electricity, demonstrating that zero-emission demolition can be integrated into everyday construction operations with minimal disruption.

Michael Metzner, Managing Director of Metzner Recycling GmbH, said: “For us as the contractor, it was crucial to plan the project from the outset so that it could operate reliably within normal construction-site routines. This demolition project shows that CO₂-free worksites are entirely achievable when equipment, logistics and energy supply are considered together.”

The use of electric equipment significantly reduces noise and local emissions on site. For residents in the neighbouring residential areas, this means lower exposure to noise, harmful particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (NOx). At the same time, the project demonstrates that climate protection and efficient construction site logistics can go hand-in-hand.

Supporting the circular economy

The demolition of the former nursery forms part of the wider expansion and redevelopment of the area, which will be transformed into public green space.

The project also embraces circular economy principles through the careful separation of construction materials, allowing suitable materials to be recovered and returned to the value chain wherever possible. In this way, the demolition project serves as an example of urban mining and resource-efficient construction practices.

“This project proves that CO₂-free demolition works not only in theory, but on real construction sites. One of the key factors is that the machines and vehicles can be operated using standard construction-site electricity. That makes the solution practical, scalable and easy for municipalities to replicate as they work towards their climate targets,” said Peter Bauer, Segment Leader at Volvo CE.

A milestone for public procurement

With the Westpark project, Nuremberg is demonstrating how municipalities can use public procurement to drive the adoption of zero-emission construction solutions. The combination of a public zero-emission tender, electric machines and conventional construction-site power supply provides a practical framework that can be replicated by cities and local authorities around the world.

For Volvo CE, the project confirms how commercially available zero-emission machines can support demanding demolition and construction applications while helping reduce emissions, noise and local air pollution.

As municipalities face increasing pressure to meet climate commitments, Nuremberg’s approach offers a clear example of how public projects can become catalysts for change. The Westpark demolition demonstrates that quieter, cleaner and more sustainable construction sites are not a vision for the future, but a practical reality today, and one that other cities can readily replicate.