A collaboration agreement between Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) and Hitachi Energy aims to develop solutions for accelerating the zero-emission construction site.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed this week the companies agreed to establish a framework for on-site electric construction equipment through the development and deployment of the power supply, charging, and power management systems required to meet the industry's decarbonisation goals.

The companies said in a release that their customers and investors are demanding lower-emissions solutions to address the environmental requirements of a project's planning and approval processes.

Under the agreement, Volvo CE and Hitachi Energy will work on a non-exclusive basis to assess potential technical and commercial concepts supporting zero-emission construction and manufacturing operations, with a focus on system integration and site-level operational execution. The scope includes joint work on business models, go-to-market approaches, and aftermarket and support considerations, supported by joint teams from both companies.

"Strategic partnerships such as this with Hitachi Energy are key to accelerating the transition to zero-emission construction," said Melker Jernberg, President of Volvo CE. "By combining complementary expertise and delivering a complete, integrated solution, we are giving customers the confidence, security, and peace of mind they need to adopt emission-free operations today."

The initial focus is business and go-to-market-oriented, emphasising practical, plug-and-play approaches to help customers simplify the transition to zero-emission construction sites. At the same time, the agreement establishes a foundation for deeper technical engagement over time, with the potential to explore more advanced capabilities such as connected machines, digital integration, and expanded service offerings.

Niklas Persson, CEO of Grid Integration at Hitachi Energy, said: "As construction operations become more electric and more complex, success depends less on individual technologies and more on system-level integration, strong execution, and close collaboration with partners like Volvo CE who share our ambition to enable zero-emission construction at scale."

The collaboration, the companies said, represents an important next step in providing customers with a comprehensive solution to help navigate and accelerate the energy transition.