Sustainability

Hilife : a sustainable project for reinventing logistics in Madrid – reinventing cities

HiLife is a project developed for Reinventing Cities. It's a next-generation cross-docking platform, for more sustainable logistics.

On August 23, 2021

Reinventing Cities is a competition initiated by the C40¹ to stimulate the most innovative carbon-neutral developments across the globe. It aims at implementing the best ideas to transform underutilized sites into beacons of sustainability and resiliency. The projects developed act as a showcase for future zero-carbon urban developments.

Reinventing Cities : a competition to design a sustainable urban future

Firstly, Reinventing Cities will:

Help drive forward public policy making to support decarbonized, sustainable, intelligent and resilient cities.

Support the implementation of new ideas and innovations that can then be rolled out on a global scale.

Actively drive collaboration between the private and public sectors to deliver new approaches to delivering low carbon urbanization. To learn more about collaboration between cities and logisticians, read our article “Municipalities And Logisticians Must Collaborate If We Are To Deliver Sustainable Last Mile Logistics” !

Reduce the impact of emissions due to the buildings. In fact, buildings account for over 50% of emissions in C40 Cities. In order to meet Paris agreement, cities need new buildings to be as close to zero carbon as possible and existing buildings need high levels of retrofit.

Therefore, each Reinventing Cities project should serve as a model for carbon-neutral development. They should demonstrate innovative climate solutions, provide local community benefits and be replicable in cities around the world. The projects showcase how partnerships between cities and the private sector can work together to shape a carbon-neutral, prosperous future.

They must creatively address both content and form, and demonstrate that environmental performances can be achieved in combination with high-quality architecture and community benefits.

HiLife : The sustainable logistics project for Madrid

HiLife is a project developed by FM Logistic in Spain, for the Reinventing Cities competition. This project should address components such as energy efficiency, sustainable building materials, climate resilience, water management, mobility, waste management, and other components that will lead to a sustainable and carbon-free project.

A strategic location, divided in two plots

The area consists of two plots (A and B) of the La Atalayuela estate, in the district of Vallecas Villa, to the south-east of Madrid. Its location next to Mercamadrid and the Villaverde-Vallecas motorway gives it a privileged character in terms of connections with the M-50 and the Henares corridor, the main urban logistics hub in Madrid.

A Plot A for cross-docking for sustainable urban distribution

Firstly, for plot A, HiLife proposes an unload, reload and good transfer node, or cross-docking, for urban distribution. It will serve a zero-emission mobility system based on a fleet of small and middle sized delivery vehicles. Hydrogen will 100% fuel the fleet. An on-site photovoltaic installation will generate renewable energy that will produce hydrogen. Interested in green energy and sustainable logistics topics ? Check out our article “How Logistics Company Can Hold A Key To The Transition To Green Energy?” !

In fact, goods will arrive at a receiving dock for big bulk trucks before being sorted out to either B2B or B2C distribution channels. Smaller trucks will deliver B2B products while vans will deliver B2C articles. The photovoltaic rooftop system will cover a great portion of both buildings (12.950m²). It will generate enough 100% renewable energy to fuel all indoor and outdoor activities. It will also serve for the hydrogen production for the delivery vans and other cargo vehicles.

The cross-docking platform area plans to be 14.000 m² (with 1.350 m² for office space) and the outside areas for parking, load and reload at 6.000 m².

The outline for plot A defines two very distinct areas:

A bigger one devoted to industrial use. It will be an open area, with vast spaces for proper forklift movement and circulation. It will also give easy access to outdoor spaces for circulation, parking, uploading and reloading.

A second one for administrative purposes and less structural spans. It will be flexible spaces, well-lit and generously related to green areas and infrastructures.

A Plot B for hydrogen production and social integration

Secondly, for plot B, the project propose several interventions :

The area of the second photovoltaic system is 5.100 square meters. Its energy output will add to that of the PV system previously defined for plot A. It will help comply with the energetic needs of buildings, outdoor areas and vehicle fleet.

Hydrogen production and supply will be implemented at a generation plant and a refueling station (HRS). Both should become strategic infrastructures for the local industry network.

Moreover, HiLife commits to social integration by creating a nursery school on the south side of plot B. It will also set up a driver’s school training, opened to a functional classroom for other types of training.

Between both plots, there will be a 9.000 m² green space. It can serves as a meeting point and leisure area for FM Logistic and nearby workers and neighbors alike.

The building blocks of this program –mixed uses, sustainable mobility, bioclimatic architecture and high quality urban spaces–, all performed from a triple bottom line perspective, should result in the sustainable enhancement of industrial fabric in urban environments.

FM Logistic Group has won the competition and now there is a big challenge ahead : working together with Madrid City Council for a sustainable city and logistics.

¹ C40 Cities