To renew a new city
The year is 2011. Ten residents of Hammarby Sjöstad gathered around a kitchen table, all agreeing that the district had not achieved the ambitious environmental goals set when Hammarby Sjöstad was built. The question now was: how can one “renew a new city” and make Hammarby Sjöstad more climate-smart and sustainable?
This was the starting point for Hammarby Sjöstad 2.0. To enable deeper collaborations, the economic association ElectriCITY Innovation was then established, which from the beginning initiated a close partnership with the Sjöstadsföreningen. The vision for ElectriCITY’s work is to reach climate goals through new and innovative ideas, practical actions, and hands-on work.
All projects aim to benefit the residents of Hammmarby Sjöstad and make Hammarby Sjöstad a leader in climate transition. By collaborating with KTH, IVL, RISE, and Energiforsk, scientific rigor is ensured in the activities.
ElectriCITY Innovation works with members and partners toward a more sustainable world through several testbeds focused on energy, transport, circular economy, and digital urban development. The goal is for Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm to become a climate-neutral district by 2030.
Project period
Jun 2014 - Dec 2030
of all energy in Europe is used for heating buildings
Project info
Categories Circular economy, Energy, Digitalization, Transport, Education
Contact persons at ElectriCITY
Former industrial land
Hammarby Sjöstad is situated on former industrial land. Before the area could be developed, extensive remediation work was required for both soil and water. The goals and ambitions for the new development were set high, as there was hope of hosting the 2004 Olympics in Stockholm. The idea was for Hammarby Sjöstad to serve as the Olympic Village for athletes and the media.
The responsible politicians promised that Hammarby Sjöstad would be twice as good as other areas built in Stockholm during the 1990s.
Over the years, cities have more or less successfully created strategies to develop sustainable neighborhoods. Hammarby Sjöstad was one of the first urban projects to bring the concept of sustainable development to a new level by linking environmental ideas and creating synergies between public services, buildings, and users.
Compared to nearby areas, Hammarby Sjöstad today, following the new developments, shows, among other things, higher population density, higher property values, fewer cars, higher income levels, and a lower environmental impact.
Hammarby Sjöstad Behind the Scenes
This is what the work process looked like when Hammarby Sjöstad was being built
This is how it was done
The Hammarby Model
When Hammarby Sjöstad began construction in the late 1990s, environmental goals were set high. It was to become a modern district, built with the latest environmental technology. The energy consumption in the buildings would be low, more people would choose public transport, waste would be converted into district heating, and food waste would become biogas for stoves and cars.
Sustainable Future
in Hammarby Sjöstad
By making conscious choices, such as reducing energy consumption, traveling more sustainably, eating less meat, and cutting back on the consumption of other goods, we can all help slow the negative climate impact on the planet. Small changes in our daily lives, when implemented by many, can lead to significant reductions in emissions and help protect the environment for future generations. It also creates a positive domino effect, where individuals inspire others to act more sustainably.
Consumption-based emissions in numbers
Emissions from private consumption need to decrease from 5 tons to 1 ton of carbon dioxide equivalents per person per year in order to meet the climate goal. Public consumption and investments, which individuals have no direct control over, account for 3 tons per person per year.
Source: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket)
Goals Achieved in
Hammarby Sjöstad
Here are some examples of positive effects that have come from the Hammarby Model and the environmental goals that created synergies between various sustainability objectives:
- Mixed land use and better communication have reduced the need for private cars and increased public transport and walking/cycling.
- Water efficiency, such as stormwater management, reduced infrastructure costs and created green spaces.
- The closed-loop system for water, waste, and energy saves resources and energy.
- Small neighborhoods facilitated the installation of pipes for waste management and energy recovery.
