SMART ECONOMY, SMART PEOPLE, SMART GOVERNANCE, SMART MOBILITY, SMART
ENVIRONMENT, SMART LIVING
Oslo, the Capital of Norway, Norway is a narrow country in northern Europe. It shares the
Scandinavian Peninsula with Sweden and Finland. Oslo is 454 square km and 300 sq km is
protected forest. It has a population of approximately 690,000 citizens with an abundance of
world-class architecture, museums and restaurants. More than this, the city has a vision to
improve the lives of its citizens by being open, connected, sustainable and innovative, it aims to
become a Smart City. By integrating ICT and Internet of Things solutions it has managed
governance, citizen’s services, energy management, waste management, water management,
urban mobility and more.
There is a wide range of Smart City Projects in Oslo, from electrical buses, zero-emission
construction sites and developing circular-based management and green energy systems. The
needs of the citizens are the guiding principles for development.
ELECTRIC PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (smart mobility, smart living)
Oslo’s public transport fleet managed by Ruter - includes a network of electrified trains, tram
ferries and more than 200 electric buses. By the end of 2023, the remaining diesel buses will be
replaced by 450 electric and autonomous or self-driving shuttles.
New bus fleets will be quieter, more comfortable for passenger, and on the part of operators,
maintenance is cheaper. Emission-free public transport makes Oslo a better place to live in with
less air pollution and less noise. Bike sharing has also been integrated in the public transport
system. Oslo has an extensive network of bike lanes and enhanced safety measures for cyclists
and pedestrians to encourage residents to take more sustainable forms of transportation within
the city. While there are concerns regarding electric vehicle manufacturing emissions and
energy use, Oslo is positioned to become a global leader in clean transit.
In the Kingdom of Norway, data from public transport operators is collected in a registry that
contains data about 21 000 daily departures on 3 000 routes. This data is open and free for use
by app and service developers.
ZERO-EMISSION CONSTRUCTION SITE (smart environment, smart government)
Construction is a key industrial sector, yet climate change and air pollution are critical threats to
be addressed. The construction industry, therefore, needs to evolve and contribute towards the
shift to a sustainable society. In Oslo, building sites are undergoing a green transformation, as
local authorities use public procurement to decarbonise Construction industry and procurement
is used for establishing environmental requirements. Since 2017 it has been a requirement that
the city’s own construction projects must be fossil-free. Since, emissions can come from energy
consumption during the construction process, use and operation of construction machinery,
transport of construction materials. Smelly fumes and noise pollution of diesel engines have
been replaced by electric construction machines from excavators to handheld machines
powered by batteries or fuel cells or connected to power cables. These offer benefits to climate
and human health.
Oslo has rewarded suppliers who can offer an emission-free construction process. An emission-
free construction process involves zero-emission machines at the construction site, as well as
zero-emission transport. In example, Agency for Water and Sewerage Works introduced
requirements for biofuels in their tenders, then gradualy emission-free construction got more
and more important. In competitions for construction assignments, they have emphasized
environmental performance and emission-free projects. Consequently the contractors have
been able to invest in emission-free machines.
Here we can see the electric excavator is connected to the charging container, while the electric
truck takes care of the mass transportation. On the right is a electrical construction machine
operation.
Public procurement has been a powerful tool to push Oslo's green ambitions forward
CYCLE BASED WASTE MANAGEMENT (smart living, smart environment)
The City of Oslo’s waste management is based on the philosophy of ‘cycle-based waste
management’, where all household waste that cannot be recycled is energy-recovered. Food
waste is recovered and transformed into bio-fertilizer for the agricultural industry and into biogas
used as fuel. Plastic waste is recovered into new plastic products, and the residual waste is
incinerated and used in production of environmentally-friendly district heating and
electricity. This philosophy enables the City of Oslo to efficiently utilize all its waste
resources, while simultaneously reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Klemetsrud Plant is the largest waste-to-energy operations in Norway. It produces district
heating and electricity by recovering waste from both households and industrial actors.
Waste sorting at Klemetsrud Plant is done with the aid of a fully automated optical sorting
process for household waste, restaurants, shops, etc.
Here the green bags with food waste and blue bags with plastic packaging are carefully
separated from the residual waste and sent to a material recovery. The residual waste is then
incinerated using very high temperatures in the furnaces to recover energy. Steam from the
incinerators is sent through a turbine that generates electricity. Food waste is recycled into
biogas and biofertilizer. Plastics are converted into new plastic products. Meanwhile residual
waste is incinerated and converted into district heating and electricity.
The end products of these wastes are electricity supplied to schools and district heating
network. Biogas is used as eco-friendly fuel for buses and waste management vehicles. And
Biofertiliser is used in the agricultural industry.
Here is a depiction of the circular-based waste management where plastic, food waste and
residual waste are converted into different types of end products.
SMART INFRASTRUCTURE (smart economy, smart environment)
To support climate friendly urban development, Oslo has collaborated with other neighboring
cities for a FutureBuilt programme – with the vision to show that climate neutral urban areas,
based on high quality architecture, are possible. Since the start of FutureBuilt, pilot projects
have been used as a strategy for changing the way buildings and urban areas are developed.
The goal is to complete projects that cut carbon emissions by at least 50% compared to current
regulations and common practice.
Among these projects is the 800-student Bjørnsletta school, a model of passive energy design.
Its indoor climate and energy use are fully automated, while the number of car parking spaces
has deliberately been kept to a minimum, with priority given to bike parking.
The same approach was adopted by another exemplary building, the Gullhaug Torg which
doesn’t offer any parking for cars. Located close to a transport hub, the 16-storey tower includes
offices and flats. Its energy consumption, offset by the amount of renewable energy generated,
is practically zero, proving that buildings can be heated and cooled without using the electricity
grid.
A third flagship project in this programme, the New Munch Museum, also meets FutureBuilt
criteria. This 12-storey building, which seems to defy the laws of physics, is protected by a
ventilated skin of corrugated, perforated aluminium sheets.
Other SMART programs include Smart Oslo Accelerator Program a tool that provides an
interface between local councillors and the private sector, particularly startups. The organisation
regularly holds a contest, called the Smart Oslo Pitch, which enables entrepreneurs to present
innovations that improve residents’ daily lives in all areas.
Nestled amidst picturesque landscapes. Oslo’s commitment to blending sustainability with
technological innovation positions it as a global benchmark for smart cities. By focusing on
environmental consciousness and technological advancement, it sets a promising a future that
is both smart and sustainable. Oslo stands out as a trailblazer in smart city initiatives,
harmonizing technology with a profound commitment to sustainability.
In addition to processing residual household waste, the plant processes hospital waste and
waste that requires immediate and secure destruction which varies from confiscated tobacco
and piracy goods to narcotics and confidential documents. Among customers with special waste
needs are the Customs, the Police and the Norwegian Armed Forces.
The sorting plant for plastic and food waste at the Klemetsrud facility has capacity to process
50,000 tons of waste per year, equivalent to roughly 120,000 households. In 2014, the plant
received 296,931 tons of waste in total, including 2,000 tons of hospital waste sent directly for
incineration. By 2017, it is expected that the plant will increase waste recycling capacity to
440,000 tons.
Oslo is the capital of Norway and has a population of approximately 670.000 citizens. The
Smart City is an urban development vision to improve the lives of the citizens by being open,
connected, sustainable, and innovative. Smart application, utilization and integration of new
technology, sectors and services is key to benefit the most important piece in the puzzle: the
citizen.
The Smart City utilizes and integrates multiple information and communication technology (ICT),
and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in a secure fashion to develop and manage a city's key
areas. These areas can be all from city governance, citizens’ services, energy management,
waste management, water management, urban mobility, education, industry development,
welfare and health care, and other community services. This requires the city to be smart across
all sectors and in cooperation with relevant stakeholders internally and externally.
There are a wide range of Smart City projects in Oslo, from testing electrical buses, zero-
emission construction sites and retrofitting existing buildings to developing circle-based waste
management and green energy systems. Any citizen-oriented services that can be
digitalized will be digitalized and the needs of the citizens are the guiding principles for
development.
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ELECTRIC PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM
The city of Oslo is set to make history by transitioning to an entirely electric public transportation
system by the end of 2023. The move promises major environmental and health benefits for the
Norwegian capital.
City officials have announced plans to replace the remaining diesel buses with new electric
models over the next year. This will make Oslo’s public transit network comprised exclusively of
zero-emission vehicles including electric trains, trams, ferries and buses.
“By completing our electric mobility agenda, Oslo is demonstrating global leadership in
sustainable public infrastructure,” said Lan Marie Nguyen Berg, Vice Mayor for Environment and
Transport. “We are improving urban livability and eliminating health hazards from pollution.”
The city currently operates 200 electric buses, accounting for over 60% of its fleet. Phasing out
the last 78 diesel buses will result in 60% lower carbon emissions from the sector. It also
dramatically cuts noise levels and air pollutants.
Oslo aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2030. The establishment of the first
major all-electric transit ecosystem marks a significant milestone toward climate neutrality. It
also positions Oslo as a model for urban mobility in the 21st century.
City leaders say that successful adoption of electric buses and phasing out of diesel paved the
way for fully transitioning trains, trams and ferries. They hope Oslo’s innovative transit upgrade
inspires cities worldwide to accelerate their own electrification plans.
ZERO EMISSION CONSTRUCTION SITE
Did you know that the built environment is the largest contributor to global carbon emissions?
Almost 40% of greenhouse gas emissions come from sectors like construction and the
operation of buildings. This number might seem overwhelming, but it also offers a lot of
opportunities. The Nordic countries are taking this opportunity to reduce emissions in building
construction. Read more about zero-emission construction sites in the smart city!
Minimising all pollution at construction sites
The idea of a circular economy also applies to the construction sector. It describes an economic
system based on the reuse and regeneration of materials to continue production in a
sustainable, environmentally friendly way. Apart from 23% of global CO2 emissions, the
construction industry also produces a heavy footprint in NO2 and PM pollution. 5% of these
emissions are directly related to activities on the construction site. Future cities need to consider
how to make their construction sector more sustainable and circular to succeed with their
ambitious climate goal.
Looking at construction, it is mostly the transport and production of construction materials that
pollutes the business. Around 60% of all emissions in the sector are emitted in this phase,
according to C40 Cities. Generators are another polluter with their CO2 emissions and noise
pollution. And site transport contributes as well, considering that most heavy-duty vehicles run
on diesel.
Therefore, it makes sense to look at how to reduce emissions before and during construction.
Nordic countries are paving the way towards zero-emission construction. They suggest
minimising all pollution at construction sites, for example, by electrifying construction site tools
and transport, minimising the emissions of construction site materials, and focusing on the
energy sources of each element, using batteries as a good example. In Oslo, Helsinki, and
Copenhagen, some construction sites are experimenting with purely electric equipment in place
of traditional diesel engines. This results in notable reductions in ambient noise and pollution.
How Oslo is moving towards electric machinery
Zero-emission construction aims at creating no emissions at all on the construction site, while
also minimising emissions during the production and transport of building materials. Using local,
untreated timber is a good example of how to do that, although of course that does not work for
every kind of building.
The first action in creating construction sites with less emissions is usually exchanging the
power source of construction tools. Smaller tools can run on batteries, which should be charged
using renewable or green energy. Generators, which create the most CO2 emissions on
construction sites, could be replaced with smart battery systems that allow lifetime CO2
emissions to drop as much as possible.
Heavy machinery is a big challenge when it comes to reducing CO2 emissions since batteries
are not yet strong enough to fully electrify these vehicles. Biofuel technologies such as
sustainable diesel might be a solution in the meantime. In Oslo, municipal construction is
already required to use biofuel technologies. The city is aiming at being completely emission-
free by 2025 and since construction accounts for 7% of the city’s total emissions, it is a key
sector. Sustainable biofuels are a first step. While they are fossil fuel-free, they are still a scarce
resource and don’t help with reducing local pollution or noise. Therefore, the city is looking to
transition to electric construction technologies with zero emissions.
By supporting the development of zero-carbon heavy-duty vehicles and machinery, developing
the necessary electricity infrastructure, and funding an electric construction site, Oslo is making
progress. Since 2019, the city has been working with zero-emission urban construction sites.
This has inspired Norway’s largest construction company, Veidekke, to move to biofuels and
purchase electric machinery.
Urgent need for CO2-neutral heavy-duty machinery
Decarbonising the construction industry is a difficult endeavour. Even when a city or project
developer manages to implement a zero-emission construction site, the question of where the
electricity comes from remains. In Norway, the electricity grid works with 98% renewable
energy, which comes mostly from hydropower. This gives Oslo an important advantage for
implementing electricity instead of diesel on construction sites.
Electrifying construction sites is not only challenging but also very expensive. The existing
construction vehicles that can be electrified require large upfront investments and changes in
the electricity infrastructure. Many cities hesitate to invest in this, even though their investments
would pay off quickly – in terms of CO2 reduction, but also dependence on fossil fuels.
And even the zero-emission pilot projects in Oslo don’t succeed at being completely emissions-
free. However, they have managed to reduce emissions by up to 99%, showing the possibilities.
More research and development for CO2-neutral heavy-duty machinery is urgently needed, as
is the accompanying charging infrastructure.
Clean construction as part of the smart city
When political will and financial resources play together, as is the case in Norway, it might be
possible to drastically reduce emissions from urban construction sites. In the smart city, the
digitisation of construction sites will help with implementing zero-emission sites. By using energy
more efficiently, reducing waste, and providing a better working environment for construction
workers, the sector can provide win-win synergies.
Learning from Oslo, it is important to harness the power of public procurement as it can drive
the market towards more environmentally friendly decisions. The city government of the
Norwegian capital is bold in its demands and has helped to lower the risks associated with
innovation and investment. It did not take long for big building companies to follow this direction.
Public support is another important element of the strategy towards more zero-emission
construction sites in future cities. By communicating advantages such as the reduced noise and
pollution, as well as less CO2 emissions, it is easy to convince citizens of the importance of
zero-emission construction sites, which in turn will incentivise construction companies to take
this direction.
The Clean Construction Forum, where Oslo is the leading city, brings cities together to engage
the buildings and construction industries. It is open to all cities and aims at sharing and
disseminating knowledge about zero-emission construction sites for smart, future-oriented
cities.
Circular Based Waste to Energy System
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Oslo municipality, Energigjeninvenningsetaten, EGE, is extending the treatment capacity at the
waste-to-energy facility at Klemetsrud by a third unit.
Ramboll is the lead consultant in connection with the new unit, which is scheduled for
commissioning in 2011. In parallel, a waste sorting plant and a biogas plant for treatment of the
organic fraction of the household waste are being constructed.
This and other projects have put Norway on the world climate map. Norway is the country with
the fastest growing district heating sector (in % p.a.) and with the largest share of waste to
energy in the district heat production.
Integrated Solution
Oslo Municipality is establishing an integrated solution for waste treatment, energy recovery and
district heating including increased use of renewable energy.
Ramboll is part of the project team with parallel establishment of a plant sorting household
waste into plastic, organic waste and residual waste, a plant producing biogas from organic
waste to be used as bio fuel for buses in Oslo and extended thermal treatment of the residual
waste with heat and electricity production at Klemetsrud waste-to-energy facility. Ramboll is
Oslo Municipality’s lead consultant in connection with the latter, responsible for the procurement
of mechanical and electrical equipment as well as civil works for a third unit and for coordinating
district heating related activities.
Ramboll assists Oslo Municipality throughout the project – from planning to implementation of
the new unit, which has a budget of €330M. When commissioned in 2011, the waste-to-energy
facilities in Oslo will have a total annual capacity of 415,000 tonnes of waste. The capacity of
the new unit is 160,000 tonnes/year, producing 55.4 MW heat (heat demand of 40,000
households) and 10.5 MW electricity (electricity consumption of 20,000 households).
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Klemetsrud CHP
Klemetsrud Plant is the largest waste-to-energy operations in Norway. It produces district
heating and electricity by recovering waste from both households and industrial actors. The
plant is strategically located to be easily accessible, thus reducing both transportation costs
and emissions.
The City of Oslo’s waste management is based on the philosophy of ‘cycle-based waste
management’, where all household waste that cannot be recycled is energy-recovered. Food
waste is recovered and transformed into bio-fertilizer for the agricultural industry and into biogas
used as fuel. Plastic waste is recovered into new plastic products, and the residual waste is
incinerated and used in production of environmentally-friendly district heating and
electricity. This philosophy enables the City of Oslo to efficiently utilize all its waste
resources, while simultaneously reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Klemetsrud Plant is the largest waste-to-energy operations in Norway. It produces district
heating and electricity by recovering waste from both households and industrial actors. The
plant is strategically located to be easily accessible, thus reducing both transportation costs
and emissions. For every tonne of garbage processed at an energy-from-waste facility, roughly
a tonne of emitted carbon-dioxide equivalent in the atmosphere is avoided. In addition, the
incinerated trash doesn’t generate methane, as it normally would at a landfill.
Waste sorting at Klemetsrud Plant is done with the aid of a fully automated optical sorting
process for household waste, restaurants, shops, etc. Here the green bags with food waste and
blue bags with plastic packaging are carefully separated from the residual waste and sent to
material recovery. The residual waste is then incinerated using very high temperatures in
the furnaces to recover energy. Steam from the incinerators is sent through a turbine that
generates electricity.
In addition to processing residual household waste, the plant processes hospital waste and
waste that requires immediate and secure destruction which varies from confiscated tobacco
and piracy goods to narcotics and confidential documents. Among customers with special waste
needs are the Customs, the Police and the Norwegian Armed Forces.
The sorting plant for plastic and food waste at the Klemetsrud facility has capacity to process
50,000 tons of waste per year, equivalent to roughly 120,000 households. In 2014, the plant
received 296,931 tons of waste in total, including 2,000 tons of hospital waste sent directly for
incineration. By 2017, it is expected that the plant will increase waste recycling capacity to
440,000 tons.
