WHY?
Why sustainability matters
The climate crisis demands concrete action, innovation and engineering expertise.
The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and we have a responsibility toward future generations to both contribute to solutions and reduce our own climate impact. To succeed in the green transition, groundbreaking innovation, new business models and engineering expertise are required.
Skanska has set the goal of being climate-neutral throughout its entire value chain by 2045, and we see that the transformation of the industry needs to happen quickly. That is why this year we are focusing on solutions that directly affect environmental and climate issues.
WHO?
Who can win?
An engineer or small team turning climate challenges into practical, lasting solutions.
The Sustainability prize in engineering can be awarded to an individual engineer or a smaller team in which the majority have engineering expertise. The winner is someone who is passionate about the climate issue, thinks innovatively and wants to change the world in a sustainable way.
The nominee must have identified a climate challenge, large or small, and developed a product, service or innovation that has had a positive, direct and sustainable impact on the climate.
This could, for example, involve a new product or technology, an innovative method or new way of working, or a service that contributes to reduced climate impact.
CRITERIA
What defines the award
The fundamental criteria for nomination.
Connection to Sweden
The person or the solution must have a strong connection to Sweden through place of residence, development or another clear link.
Societal benefit
The work must have a positive impact on society or the environment.
Ethics and sustainability
The solution must meet high ethical standards and promote sustainable development.
Current work
Nominees must have been active in the area during the past year.
Note
Employees of Skanska cannot be nominated.
HALL OF FAME
Previous winners
A selection of individuals and teams previously recognized by the award.
Featured winner · 2025 · 2025
HYBRIT’s hydrogen storage
Presented by Skanska
One of industry’s biggest climate challenges is how to store energy and balance the system when solar and wind output vary. HYBRIT’s pilot project in Luleå has provided an answer: storage of fossil-free hydrogen in steel-lined rock caverns. The technology has been tested in real operation with performance corresponding to 50 years of use — and the results show that fossil-free steel is no longer a vision, but a reality on the path to scaling up.
The jury sees the project as a technical milestone that can reduce Sweden’s carbon emissions by up to ten percent and give industry an entirely new flexibility.
2024
Johanna Stjernström, Stockholm City Exploitation Office
Presented by Skanska
The construction industry’s path toward an emission-free future. Johanna Stjernström has led the work on "Persikan", one of Sweden’s first emission-free construction sites. Through innovative knowledge-sharing and a strong commitment to collaboration, she has shown how the construction sector can reduce its climate impact, while also lowering noise and air pollution in densely built urban areas.
2023
Skellefteå Kraft Business Innovation Team
Presented by Skanska
Business models that drive the climate transition. The winners have shown how innovative business models can solve climate challenges by creating win-win situations. By transforming old business models and thinking in new ways, they have found a key to accelerating the transition toward a more sustainable energy sector.
2022
Gaia Gen
Presented by Skanska
Data that reduces the climate footprint of digitalization. In a world where digitalization is increasing, new solutions are needed to understand and reduce its climate impact. Gaia Gen has created a solution that makes it possible for companies to gain precise knowledge of the climate impact of their cloud services, making it easier to make data-driven and sustainable decisions.
2021
Northvolt through Maria Åstrand
Presented by Skanska
Revolutionizing Swedish industry through sustainable battery production. Northvolt has shown that it is possible to create circular and climate-neutral industrial production in Sweden. By building a green value chain for battery metals, they have laid the foundation for more sustainable electrification and the transformation of the transport sector.