Hallingplast supplies pipes made of renewable raw material for a unique project in Gothenburg

Old drinking water pipelines in Gothenburg need to be replaced. A pioneering project is being carried out, with the aim of making the smallest possible climate impact, to implement a major infrastructure project in water and sewage. The project will then become a template for the rest of the country. Hallingplast is manufacturing the new pipes from bio-circular polyethylene, a renewable raw material produced by Borealis in Stenungsund.

The drinking water pipelines under Stjärnbildsgatan and Merkuriusgatan streets in the Bergsjön district were originally installed in 1966 and now need to be replaced. Pollex, the largest Swedish supplier in the field of renewal, maintenance and surveys of water supply and sewage pipes using trenchless methods, has been given the task of carrying out the installation, which is Sweden’s first fully electric pipe fracturing project. 

“As a raw material producer, we think it is positive that end customers are starting to demand this type of product. We are ready for more orders. If we are to be able to adapt, the demand for such projects needs to increase, where the entire chain from producer to end customer wants to make the transition,” says Marcus Kierkegaard, site manager at Borealis in Stenungsund. 

Infrastructure projects with significantly lower carbon footprint

The robust pipes, made of renewable plastic, contribute significantly to a lower climate footprint and reduced carbon dioxide emissions in the project. In order to reduce transport, the project will temporarily store and reuse the soil from the trench pits. In addition, all the machines used will be powered by renewable electricity. This applies to everything from excavators, trucks and bulldozers used to level the ground. In cases where this is not possible, biofuels, biogas or HVO will be used. 

“The CO2 footprint during the service life of the water pipeline is minimal. This is due to the fact that all parts of the project will be implemented in the most sustainable way, from renewable raw materials in the pipes, very little digging work, electric machines and few transports. The pipe solutions from Borealis and Borouge are an integral part of that chain,” says John Webster, Global Commercial Director at Borealis.

The pipes, produced by Hallingplast in Norway, are made of PE100 RC with a thin protective sheath made of polypropylene, making them robust and suitable for alternative installation methods such as “no-dig”, where installation takes place without digging an open trench. The polyethylene pipes, whose properties avoid leakage, unlike conventional materials that can cause water losses of between 30–50 per cent, are designed for a service life of over 100 years, which also contributes to low climate impact.