Climate-neutral deconstruction at the construction site of the Siemens Technology Campus Erlangen.
A flagship construction project: Siemens, with the support of Volvo Construction Equipment and Metzner Recycling, is carrying out the world’s first fully electric deconstruction. Fully electric construction machinery and a high recycling rate of building materials ensure a climate-neutral dismantling of the existing structures.
In July 2023, Siemens announced the establishment of a new campus for development and high-tech manufacturing in Erlangen, with investments of around 500 million euros to expand research and production capacities. With this initiative, Siemens is transforming the site into a global center for research and development and a nucleus for worldwide technology activities in the industrial metaverse.
The expansion follows a comprehensive and forward-looking sustainability and energy concept. The approximately 200,000 square meter area is being consistently developed as a zero-emissions site, meeting the highest sustainability standards. Planned features include an innovative energy infrastructure, green energy supply in partnership with the City of Erlangen, and the extensive use of sustainable digital building technology solutions from Siemens.
The new campus in Erlangen is being realized by Siemens Real Estate, the company’s real estate division, in collaboration with Siemens Digital Industries. The first steps involved the virtual planning and simulation of the new technology campus even before the groundbreaking ceremony. This allowed important sustainability goals to be considered and integrated early on through a digital twin of the buildings. Siemens Real Estate, as the developer, is also breaking new ground in the deconstruction of existing buildings, in collaboration with Metzner Recycling. Together with the experienced and innovative partner Volvo Construction Equipment, the world’s first emission-free deconstruction on an industrial scale is being realized. Fully electric construction machines are used to dismantle and crush two buildings with a footprint of 3,300 square meters and a building volume of approximately 24,700 cubic meters. The electrified demolition yields around 12,800 tons of mineral recycling material, which is reused directly on-site for the new construction.
In total, the buildings dismantled by demolition robots achieve a recycling rate of around 96% of all materials – for example, as substructure for floor slabs, as aggregate for concrete, or as raised floor panels that are returned to the manufacturer for refurbishment.
“As a company, we have set ourselves ambitious sustainability goals and aim to be climate-neutral by 2030,” says Daniel Bechmann, General Manager of the construction project. “Our new construction projects are already largely CO₂-neutral in operation. That’s why this was a great opportunity for us to make a significant contribution to CO₂ reduction on a large construction site together with our capable deconstruction partners,” Bechmann adds.
