Renewable energy from asphalt
Feasibility study into generating energy from asphalt
Is it possible to generate energy from asphalt? We did a feasibility study into the possibility of generating energy from asphalt in the residential area and future office park of Broekhorn in the Netherlands. The feasibility study was focused on generating renewable and sustainable energy for the houses and offices there.
Since asphalt absorbs a lot of sunlight due to its black colour this heat can be extracted from the asphalt and stored in the ground. In the summer the temperature of the asphalt can rise to 50 degrees.
So how does it work?
Water streams through the asphalt (below the surface) which absorbs and transports the heat/cold. The road therefore generates energy that can be used for heating/cooling of buildings. This has two benefits:
- it creates renewable and sustainable energy
- the asphalt’s durability is elongated since it doesn’t get damaged by the heat/frost anymore.
CO2 reduction
This sustainable energy concept achieves an enormous reduction in CO2 emission. The rough estimate is about 3 million to 4 million kg on a yearly basis.
Next steps
After the feasibility study Grontmij received an assignment from the Province of Noord Holland to do a test project for the office park in Broekhorn to make it ready for tendering. The office park is to be connected to the new stretch of road equipped with this new innovation.