Construction and civil engineering machinery account for a large share of Umeå's emissions. With E-NORM, Umeå is taking a nationally leading role in reducing machinery emissions. The project is based on the conviction that a rapid and sustainable transition requires municipalities and industry to work together.
Contractors have been involved in close dialogue to provide feedback on requirements, incentives, and the design of new framework agreements. E-NORM is funded by the European Regional Development Fund via Tillväxtverket and will be implemented from 2026 to 2029. The project is conducted in collaboration with Umeå Energi and Östersund Municipality, among others.
E-NORM serves as a national testbed for procurement models, business strategies, and technical solutions that can be scaled up across Sweden. Umeå Municipality is the first in Sweden to introduce fossil-free requirements in its framework agreements for paving, civil engineering, and parks. The industry itself has been involved in shaping these fossil-free requirements.
Through E-NORM, the municipality shows that local action can drive national change. The project combines climate benefits, work environment improvements, technology development, and competitiveness. New technologies and electric work machines are tested in real construction projects, such as those at Renmarkstorget, Tomtebo strand, and the LSS housing Malmen.
Umeå Energi enables access to energy solutions and contributes to smart charging technology and new business models. Umeå Municipality is renting an electric tractor for six months to test in outdoor environments. Malin Lagervall, Department Head of Planning and Projects, stated, 'Being the first to introduce fossil-free requirements in framework agreements is not a symbolic decision.
It is a concrete and decisive step to actually reduce emissions in the civil engineering sector. ' The specific fossil-free requirements and expected emission reductions from E-NORM are unknown.