Over the course of a year, two competing teams have worked with a a crucial question: How Could the Öresund bridge be built in 2045 with zero emissions of greenhouse gases? In July of 2018, that question was answered. Team Blue won in the competition category of “Transformative overall solution for zero emissions and Team Yellow won first prize in the category of ”Groundbreaking innovation concept”
Synopsis report – Experiences, results and the process
More than a competition, more than zero emissions.
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The Swedish EPA initiated the competition to boost the development of new solutions and innovations so that the infrastructure sector can meet the industry’s and Sweden’s environmental objectives.
The results: A serpent-shaped bridge and a seagrown bridge
Team Blue won in the category of "transformative overall solution for zero emissions" with a snake-shaped bridge in climate-positive steel and concrete construction with a honeycomb structure, which saves both materials and produces electricity. A winning concept that reduces an estimate 304,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Team Yellow’s winning contribution presents a bridge where nature’s own processes grow the bridge from bio rock with the help of carbon dioxide and lime from the sea. The concept also includes new construction processes as well as new business and financing models.
Competitors cooperated – colleagues competed
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The two teams consist of representatives from the cement, steel and construction industry along with members from universities and research institutes.
In this model there are two teams with cutting-edge expertise that are competing. It is designed to make competitors cooperate with each other and generate ideas while at the same time making colleagues compete against one another. With its new approach to collaboration, the competition aimed to erase traditional boundaries and draw inspiration from other industries and sciences.
Who was behind the competition?
The Swedish EPA developed the competition in collaboration with the following government agencies:
- National Board of Housing, Building and Planning
- Swedish Energy Agency
- Formas, The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning
- Swedish Agency for Growth Policy Analysis
- Swedish Transport Administration
- Vinnova, The Swedish Innovation Agency
Another important partner to the competition was InfraSweden2030 - a strategic innovation programme. The programme has played a key role in forming the teams with the right expertise.
Brief background
The Swedish EPA initiated the competition to contribute to the new climate framework that Sweden adopted in 2017. Under the framework, Sweden is to reach net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by the year 2045. Such a development requires a resource-efficient transition to a sustainable environment
In addition, the global sustainability objectives challenge us to find new ways of collaboration to meet the objectives. The Swedish EPA has aimed to contribute to this through the competitive initiative. Industry, researchers and government agencies have adoped a new approach to collaboration so that breakthrough innovations can be developed.