Nye Veier, together with 16 partners, has received support from the Green Platform to develop more climate-friendly and environmentally friendly roads in Norway. The goal is to test innovative solutions and bring them to market. The project will last for three years, and has a total budget of 123 million.

“Nye Veier has ambitions both in terms of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reduced impact on nature and the environment. Then we have to work with the best -- on the best solutions. The funds from the Green Platform help us to make faster and more investments in sustainable solutions,” says Arild Nygård, Head of Strategy and Sustainability at Nye Veier.

Over the past 20 years, a number of new, exciting technologies have been tested in pilots on Norwegian roads. However, it has been difficult to commercialize them.

The journey from pilot to market is time-consuming and extensive. The risks of adopting newly piloted technology are too high. Parts of the current system of allocations counter the green shift.

“The project will change the way we build roads in Norway. The funds from the Green Platform are crucial to achieving the climate goals,” says Helen Roth, general manager of VIA, the transport infrastructure industry cluster.

Innovative solutions for road construction
The pilot projects will provide new knowledge about what promotes — and inhibits — innovation in Norwegian road construction. The pilot phase will be the start of a journey for new sustainable technologies into the market. An important goal is to design accurate and effective contract bases.

“At Nye Veier, we have good experience in that contract requirements lead to innovative solutions that reduce the climate and environmental footprint of projects. We are keen on competitions where entrepreneurs are awarded for applying new and better solutions,” says Anette Aanesland, CEO of Nye Veier.

During the three-year project period, at least ten new innovative solutions for road body, tunnel and road structures will be qualified and piloted. The solutions are based on raw materials from three different resources

• Pulps and materials from the construction site
• By-product of mining and processing industries
• Recycled glass

Based on the pilots, a methodology and an innovation system will be developed that will become the “European road map” for new Norwegian technologies. It will lift new innovations in the industry from idea via piloting and into the market.

The industry is ready to deliver concepts that will trigger the transformation of the Norwegian construction industry and contribute to the development of circular solutions that can be exported internationally.

The Green Platform is funded by the Ministry of Industry and Fisheries, and is awarded jointly by the Swedish Research Council, Innovation Norway and Siva.
The initiative aims to develop a sustainable business sector that takes care of the climate and the environment — and creates economic value. In this round, a total of NOK 623 million was distributed to 11 project participants. The participants also contribute substantial deductibles, so that the projects have a total budget of over NOK 1 billion.

Photo: New Roads