Developed by Ooms Nederland Holding in collaboration with WTH and TipSpit, Road Energy Systems® extracts energy from asphalt concrete. The system exploits the heat-absorbing capacity of asphalt concrete, which is enhanced by its black color. The thermal energy produced is used to cool buildings, houses and roads in summer and heat them in winter.

How it works
Road Energy Systems® consists of a layer of asphalt concrete that has a closed system of pipes running through it. The pipes are connected to underground aquifers (water-bearing sand). In summer the sun heats the asphalt concrete pavement, which in turn raises the temperature of the water in the pipes. The water is then transported to the heat source area, where it is stored for several months. As soon as autumn arrives, the system brings the warm water to the surface, where a heat pump raises its temperature to a level suitable for low temperature heating systems. The surplus thermal energy is used to keep the temperature of the asphalt concrete above freezing point. The asphalt concrete cools the water to the point where it can eventually flow to the cold source. In summer the process is reversed. Water is pumped up from the cold source and used to cool buildings. This warms the water, which then moves through the asphalt collector again, is heated further by the sun and then injected into the heat source in the ground.

Environmental benefits
Research has shown that Road Energy Systems®:
  • cuts CO2 emissions by 50% compared to conventional heating systems;
  • minimizes chloride use (salt for icy roads).

Projects
Ooms Nederland Holding is the first company in the world to extract energy from asphalt concrete for use in heating an office building. The first stage of the installation of Road Energy Systems® in Scharwoude started on October 1, 2000. In all, four office buildings will enjoy the benefits of the system's summer cooling and winter heating.