Reused bricks in new substation
Using reused bricks for substation buildings reduced the carbon footprint by over 90%, enhancing sustainability in a power grid project.
To meet the demands of an increasingly electrified Solna, located just outside Stockholm, the power grid has been strengthened with a new regional grid station, completed in 2024, along with new underground cables offering higher capacity than before.
This infrastructure will provide greater power and stability to large parts of Solna, supporting the municipality’s growth and development.
By using reused bricks for the buildings, the carbon footprint was reduced by over 90 percent compared to using newly manufactured bricks. Additionally, a green area has been designed with trees for noise reduction, a more pleasant environment for nearby residents, and the potential collection of stormwater and rainfall of up to 600 cubic meters.
Various species of trees and plants have been planted to increase biodiversity and create variation in the green experience throughout the year.Finally, solar panels on the roof support the station‘s internal operations and reduce the load on the municipal power grid.
More about circularity
The transition to a circular economy is an opportunity, and renewable energy is an important piece of the puzzle in driving the circular economy forward.
Transform to a more circular business
Circularity is essential to securing future resource needs, reducing costs, and achieving our sustainability targets.
See also
Pilot project: reusing substation buildings
As part of our efforts to reduce environmental impact, Vattenfall Eldistribution will test circular construction and reuse of existing substation buildings.
Vattenfall‘s circular approach for office renovations
Vattenfall maximised the reuse of existing materials when renovating the office in Arnhem.
Circular IT and reuse of equipment
Vattenfall has a long-term partnership with IT recycling companies Inrego and AFB to optimise reuse and recycling of IT equipment.