Skellefteå Airport, Skellefteå Municipality, Skanska and the British company Urban-Air Port are initiating a collaboration linked to drone logistics. The goal is to integrate infrastructure for drone deliveries in the large logistics site Hammarängen, which is under development in Skellefteå.
Skellefteå is experiencing fantastic growth. Its population of 75 000 is expected to grow to over 100 000 by 2040, demanding new jobs and many new homes. Northvolt, Europé’s largest electric battery production facility, (a gigafactory), is nearing completion and contributing to the surge in employment opportunities. This is an industrial boost for the region as well an important step towards green transition.
“With this increased growth we see a need for fast and sustainable transport for both companies, public enterprises and private individuals. By coordinating all modes of transport and early integrating the airborne goods transport of the future in community planning, we hope to be able to create a safe, robust, cost-efficient, sustainable, accessible and future-oriented logistics system throughout the municipality”. Lars Hedqvist at Skellefteå Municipality.
In order to be able to offer deliveries with drones, infrastructure on the ground in the form of a droneport is required. One of the objectives is to develop the world’s first droneport in wood from local forests and thereby demonstrate a sustainable way of building the infrastructure of tomorrow. As the logistics site at Hammarängen is under development, it is possible to integrate drone deliveries into planning from the beginning and thereby create a multimodal hub where all forms of transport are coordinated. This will hopefully bring environmental, societal and economical benefits.
“Drones are part of the sustainable transport methods of the future and the future is here faster than we think. In the industrial area Hammarängen Skellefteå Södra, there are the right conditions for developing the logistics and infrastructure required, and it will be really interesting to be a part of this work.” David Nordberg, Skanska.
The project is supported by Sustainovation, Skanska’s innovation operations.
During this year, the collaborating parties will carry out a feasibility study to map e.g. design, needs, permit processes and costs associated with a droneport.
“We are delighted to be working with this highly experienced, multi-disciplined consortium to bring Advanced Air Mobility to Skellefteå and Sweden. The model of combining the local authority, the airport and a construction company together with Urban-Air Port’s unique innovative ground infrastructure for future AAM is a blueprint which can be replicated around the world. Our infrastructure is designed to allow the quick and easy adoption of this exciting new form of transportation in as easy and cost-effective way as possible.” Ricky Sandhu, Founder and Executive Chairman, Urban-Air Port Ltd.
“As our order-book for UAP models starts to grow, we welcome these types of initiatives, as multi-stakeholder involvement means we can accelerate the adoption of this new mode of transport – sustainably.” Stuart Bloomfield, Chief Development Officer, Urban-Air Port.
Urban-Air Port’s larger CityBox model. Copyright Urban-Air Port Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
“By combining the airport’s capability with Skanska’s property development expertise, Urban-Air Port’s concept of ground infrastructure for drone deliveries and Skellefteå municipality’s investments in the sustainable society of the future, we have a partnership that will be able to create innovative solutions for the future transportation of airborne goods”. Robert Lindberg, CEO of Skellefteå Airport.
The investment is part of the ELIS development program, which is about testing, developing and commercializing electrified aviation. www.elisprogram.com
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