Fredrikstad Municipality, in line with Oslo, has set itself ambitious climate goals by adopting a new climate plan in the fall of 2019. In this climate plan, Fredrikstad Municipality has, among other things, adopted that by 2030, all major vehicles and construction equipment should be fossil-free if the technology is available. Fredrikstad Municipality imposes strict environmental requirements in development projects where it is to be built with as low emissions of greenhouse gases as possible. Furthermore, the municipality wants to make demands for fossil-free and/or emission-free construction sites and will eventually demand, among other things, zero-emission technology as this becomes available.

Fredrikstad Municipality has with assistance from the project Climate advice in procurement completed the acquisition of an infrastructure project with completely fossil-free and partially emissions-free plant operation. The municipality used both rice and praise in its purchasing power to realize the first project of electric excavators in Østfold.

Klima Østfold has released the report Fossil-free plant operation — Case: Fredrikstad Municipality about how the process was carried out, with the aim of inspiring and guiding municipalities that will carry out similar development processes. The report lists some success factors for climate procurement to be successful that other municipalities should also take into account if they are to do something similar (note that we are talking about projects with machines on electricity, hydrogen and biogas):

• Preliminary work:
  Good preparation is the most important success factor for the purchase, and essential for its success. It is therefore recommended to do the necessary examinations and clarifications, including:
  — Conducting a supplier conference
  — Investigate charging possibilities
  — Obtaining cost estimates
  — Good internal probing
  — Attend experience exchange meetings and read reports
  
• Charging and filling infrastructure:
  It is important to think through early in the process how machines and vehicles will charge and/or fill biogas or hydrogen. At the start of the electrification of construction machinery, it can be crucial that the builder assumes the responsibility and cost of facilitating the charging and wiring of machinery to build down a significant barrier.
• Supplier Dialogue:
  Dialogue with suppliers to identify barriers and possible measures to stimulate the use of fossil-free machines and vehicles on electricity, hydrogen and biogas. The responses the municipality received in the supplier conference were very helpful. Communicating clearly to the supplier market that these are the requirements and criteria to come is important both to prepare entrepreneurs and to invest in fossil-free machines.
• Anchoring:
  It is a great advantage if the municipality has plans, strategies or decisions that go towards fossil-free plant operation. This makes it easier to work both internally and with respect to credibility in the face of suppliers.
• Pilots:
  When choosing a pilot project, it can be smart to choose one or a few focus areas and really work for them. In this project, electric excavators were selected as a venture and given strong incentives to achieve just this.
• Transfer of experience:
  Look to good examples for inspiration and guidance. The project itself Climate advice in procurement was completed in 2023, but case descriptions, templates, checklists, routines and other guidance material prepared by the project are still to be found on the site Guidance material.

Climate consultancy in procurement (Source: Viken FK/Klima Østfold)

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