About the project
The main goal of Enhance Europe project concerns the set-up of a field-scale system able to collect and convert the solar energy into internal energy in a fluid medium, to transmit the stored energy to a fluid (water) to produce domestic hot water/heating, so as to reduce the use of fossil fuels. The energy harvesting system, embedded in road pavements under thin-layer asphalt wearing courses, expects to recover and reuse solar renewable energy thanks to integrated conversion technologies for building heating. The project aims at developing advanced research and innovative excellence in thermal energy harvesting and accumulation in the built environment among European countries. The technology considers different scale economies in different European contexts through EU standardization. This will be possible thanks to a strong international Consortium of experienced partners in thermal energy harvesting, automation, electronics, business, to reach excellent joint results dealing with scientific knowledge, research and development, education and public engagement.
The project will provide technologies for harvesting, storing and reusing the solar energy collected by road flexible pavements made of asphalt concrete, that will be equipped with pipes for integrating the thermal energy through heat exchanger fluids in the city buildings. The achievement of expected outcomes is forecasted through a specific R&D pathway addressing overarching concerns within the field-scale energy system and aligning with the overall project framework. The anticipated impacts are detailed into the project using Key Performance Indicators. The project implementation is organized to address such impacts, also including a perspective for technological transfer. This project is poised to significantly propel the field of thermal energy harvesting and accumulation forward, thereby bolstering the EU’s prowess in clean energy technologies. Participation from industry stakeholders is anticipated.
