Volvo Construction Equipment convenes Europe’s ecosystem at Move to Zero 2026

• Nearly 140 change-makers from across Europe’s construction value chain convened at Volvo CE’s headquarters in Eskilstuna for Move to Zero (MTZ) 2026. 
• The conversation focused on the keys to unlock scaling, with electrification already delivering stronger business cases, better working conditions, and clear public health benefits.
• Guest speakers from ongoing infrastructure projects in Copenhagen and London showed momentum is building, driven by decisive action across policy and procurement to accelerate systematic change.

The interactive, dialogue-driven event brought together representatives from across the construction value chain – including contractors, customers, energy companies, municipalities, policymakers and partners, demonstrating through concrete examples that large-scale transformation is already underway, even in a time of global uncertainty.

“It’s truly powerful to have this many changemakers gathered in one room, representing every part of the value chain,” said Melker Jernberg, President of Volvo CE.

“We stay firm in our focus on driving transformation. Collaboration is critical – but it is action within each of our own areas of responsibility that creates the foundation for systemic change together.”

From ambition to action

Having committed early to emission‑free construction in 2019, Volvo CE hosted its first MTZ event in 2024. Two years on, the conversation has shifted from awareness to execution, with a growing focus on scaling solutions that are already delivering results.

At the same time, the path forward has become more complex. Geopolitical uncertainty, trade barriers, and supply chain disruptions are competing with sustainability for attention. Despite this, Volvo CE strongly reaffirmed its confidence that the transition is happening – driven by the fact that emission-free solutions are simply better for both business and people.

“The total cost of ownership is increasingly shifting in favor of electric machines,” said Jernberg. “Lower operating costs, combined with less noise and improved conditions for people both inside and outside the machine, mean that electric solutions are already delivering stronger business cases than diesel. This marks a key turning point, helping to shift the narrative around electric machines.”

Electrification is here—and scaling is the next step

Guest speakers from across the value chain shared real‑world insights on the progress being made—and what still needs to change.

Cities were highlighted as a critical driver of demand. Through public procurement requirements and clear targets, zero‑emission construction is increasingly moving toward becoming standard practice, particularly in urban environments, where benefits such as improved air quality, reduced noise and safer worksites are immediate.

Daniel Marsh, Programme Manager at Imperial College London, said:

“Our research shows that compact diesel machines are now a significant source of urban air pollution, yet they remain under-recognized in policy. The technology to eliminate harmful tailpipe emissions already exists. The priority now is to scale its use faster, through practical policy, better planning and stronger collaboration across the construction value chain to protect the health of both the workers and local communities.”

Business case driving adoption

Leading markets such as Oslo, where municipal construction sites are already fossil‑free at scale, and the Netherlands, with its national roadmap for zero‑emission construction equipment, show how policy and procurement can accelerate adoption.

While wider uptake has been slower than initially anticipated, projects across Germany, Sweden and the UK further demonstrate that demand is growing, with buyers increasingly requesting zero‑emission construction solutions across Europe.

Nynne Marie Bech, Discipline Lead at Copenhagen Metro, shared experiences from integrating emission‑free equipment into construction projects and outlined how the company will scale up the effort in coming Metro projects based on recent years’ positive results.

“Emission‑free construction is no longer a theory – it works on site,” she said. “While we still encounter traditional mindsets in the early stages of a project, enthusiasm tends to rise once the operators try the electric machines”. “And operators are the culture bearers and thus important advocates for emission free construction”, she added.

Bech also emphasized the importance of clients taking responsibility for setting clear ambitions through binding requirements, giving contractors the confidence to invest and be part of the transition.

Redefining boundaries of what is possible

Bringing real-world experience from the UK was Matt Palmer, Executive Director of the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) in the UK. LTC is one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects and the country’s first of its size to eliminate diesel from its construction sites, replacing it with electric and hydrogen-powered heavy machinery.

Palmer shared how the project is demonstrating that major construction can support both economic growth and net-zero ambitions, creating a blueprint for low-carbon infrastructure. The plan is to use around 140 zero‑emission machines across multiple sites, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and learning together.

Move to Zero 2026 concluded with a clear message: the solutions exist, momentum is building, and scaling now depends on continued, accelerated action within each organization – combined with collaboration across the ecosystem.