ProjectZero is a public-private partnership dedicated to making Sønderborg’s energysystem carbon-neutral by 2029. The project is built on strong local commitment and collaboration, and this unique community is the foundation for our mission’s success.
In Sønderborg, we are driven by action, and we have a long tradition of making things happen in collaboration and togetherness. This also applies when it comes to taking responsibility for our common future.
From the very beginning, ProjectZero has been built on strong local collaboration as a public private partnership between Sønderborg Municipality and the Bitten & Mads Clausens Foundation – with dedicated citizens, companies, educational institutions and utility companies driving every success story. Today, we are Denmark’s strongest green public-private partnership.
ProjectZero is one of Sønderborg’s lighthouse projects and has had the support of a unanimous city council through all the years, and the project has grown into an internationally recognized lighthouse project. Not because of what we do, but rather how we do it.
We have shown how a local society can accelerate decarbonization by following a cost-effective master plan and taking action – together.
WEF AWARDS OUR PARTNERSHIP
In 2023, The World Economic Forum’s Centre for Urban Transformation and UN-Habitat honored ProjectZero with its Award of Distinction for Public-Private Collaboration in Cities in recognition of the positive and measurable impact demonstrated in the city of Sønderborg.
WE SHARE LEARNINGS THROUGH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Project Zero on the way in Singapore
By 2030, at least one in five educational institutions in Singapore will be carbon neutral. This is one of several goals in the ambitious Green Plan, which aims to make Singapore an Asian role model in sustainability.
One of Singapore’s largest universities, Singapore Polytechnic, wants to be a national role model and make its entire campus carbon neutral. The recipe comes from our ProjectZero and we have agreed to be partners on the Asian project.
Singapore’s ProjectZero still doesn’t have an official name, but it will be a localized version of Sønderborg’s vision. The ambition is for Singapore Polytechnic to serve as an inspiration and showcase for Singapore’s other educational institutions.
The project in Singapore will encompass the entire 38-hectare campus, which, in addition to teaching facilities for 12,800 students, is also home to student housing, shops and an area with sports facilities such as a swimming pool and stadium.
Greening a Polish district heating system
In february 2024, a partnership between ProjectZero and the Polish province of Lower Silesia was signed by Brian Seeberg, CEO of ProjectZero; Krzystof Maj, member of the regional council; and Maciej Zathey, Director of the Department of Regional Development in the presence of H.M. The King.
Together, we will make Lower Silesia’s district heating system green.
About 80% of Poland’s energy supply is currently based on fossil fuels. But there are strong ambitions in Poland to start decarbonizing the energy supply. The collaboration between ProjectZero and Lower Silesia is an important first step. Here, the focus is on the district heating system.
ProjectZero’s model is about facilitating an in-depth collaboration between many stakeholders with a common ambition, where all parties simultaneously each achieve great value. Energy efficiency, including electrification and energy recycling, are key elements in achieving a CO2-neutral energy system.