Partners: nolla_E (energy and circularity enabler), Kotkan Julkiset Kiinteistöt Oy (property owner), Skanska Sweden (contractor)
Countries: Finland and Sweden
What was piloted?
nolla_E and partners piloted reuse of existing air handling units in two real energy-renovation projects: Kotka Concert Hall in Finland and a central Uppsala block in Sweden. In Kotka, an air handling unit inside the Concert Hall was dismantled, modified for higher energy efficiency and relocated within the same building, as part of a wider energy-renovation that used nolla_E's software to find the optimal combination of measures for EU taxonomy-aligned performance. In Uppsala, the same approach was applied across a central city block. The second case prepared an AHU dismantled from a Skanska site in Stockholm for reuse in a different owner's building in Uppsala to demonstrate cross-portfolio reuse, but the transaction ultimately could not be closed as a workable dismantling price could not be agreed. nolla_E quantified energy efficiency, CO₂ impact and economics across the cases.
Challenges and how they were tackled
Product compatibility on site. In Kotka, a selected unit had its service doors on the wrong side. The team found replacement equipment and added automatic compatibility checks to nolla_E's software so future plans flag mismatches in design.
Space, sequencing and on-site conditions. Moving large modules required tight working spaces and enlarged structural openings, adding a few weeks. The team redesigned installation solutions during the project and accepted that early reuse projects need more flexibility in planning.
Pricing of dismantling work in the cross-portfolio case. In Stockholm / Uppsala case the dismantling contractor could not set a workable price under the conditions, and that part of the pilot had to be terminated. nolla_E is now building the matchmaking and timing logic that cross-portfolio reuse requires, including a platform for reused HVAC equipment.
Key learnings
Reuse can be both climate- and cost-positive. In Kotka, the wider energy project achieved a 64% CO₂ reduction with a 20% return on investment at energy project level, and 26% for the reuse case. The Uppsala block, in calculations, reached EU taxonomy-aligned performance with a similar 20% return without reuse and 28% with reuse.
Software-supported planning is decisive: simulation plus compatibility checks turn reuse from opportunistic to repeatable.
Every actor needs to be incentivised with a clear "why". When each party sees a concrete benefit for themselves, from cost savings to new revenue or lower risk, circular solutions are easier to adopt.
Mindset and access to reusable equipment are still bottlenecks; urban-mining audits would help close the gap.
Solution scaling probability: 4.5 / 5
nolla_E has similar projects in execution and is commercialising its reuse services, including HVAC material audits and a platform to match supply and demand. Kotkan Julkiset Kiinteistöt Oy plans to reuse machines and equipment whenever possible.
In all our projects of this type, energy efficiency has improved and CO₂ emissions have reduced, and reuse has delivered a cost saving, not a cost premium. The key is that everyone in the project has a clear reason to do it.
— Nikolas Salomaa, Founder and CEO, nolla_E