Video: inside the world’s first full electric deconstruction site
10 December 2025
Earlier this year, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) and Metzner Recycling completed the world’s first zero-emission industrial-scale deconstruction at a Siemens Technology Campus in Erlangen, Germany.
Owner of Metzner Recycling Michael Metzner (right) and Volvo’s Segment Leader Peter Bauer (left) gave an in-depth overview of the world’s first fully electric deconstruction site in Erlangen, Germany.
The project, shortlisted for the Recycling & Environmental category at the World Demolition Awards, used compact, mid-size and grid-connected machines for tasks including selective gutting, concrete cutting, material handling and transport.
Power was supplied via a custom on-site transformer with direct grid connection to certified renewable electricity, enabling simultaneous charging and continuous supply for grid-connected equipment.
Around 12,800 tons of construction waste were processed on site, with 96% recycled into raw materials for future use. Indoors, compact machines worked alongside a Husqvarna demolition robot, eliminating emissions and reducing the need for air filtration.
Speaking at the World Demolition Summit, Michael Metzner, Metzner Recycling, and Peter Bauer, Volvo CE, discussed how the project was carried out and how it serves as a blueprint for future success.