Subproject: Sustainable Infrastructure – contributing towards national climate goals
This subproject aims to assess the potential for energy production from renewable energy sources as sunlight, waves, winds and currents.
Large potential for producing renewable energy
The studies have shown a number of interesting possibilities. There are strong indications that there is a large potential for producing renewable energy in connection with road structures. Renewable electricity production will contribute to reducing carbon footprint from construction and operation of such infrastructure, and in some cases it can help finance the construction project. Norway has both the natural resources and the professional competence required to be a world leader in this area.
A number of R&D projects and activities are currently going on within energy, environment and climate in connection with this subproject, such as on materials, methods, durability, long-term environmental impacts and emission levels. In addition, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration is involved in a number of activities that are to contribute towards a low-emission society
Transfer of knowledge and competence to other road projects
The project is to ensure that the new E39 becomes a more sustainable and future-oriented corridor. This will contribute towards national climate goals, and the corridor will be used as a demonstration site to facilitate the implementation and dissemination of R&D results. It will also make it possible to transfer knowledge and competence to other road projects through extended interaction with the Traffic Safety, Environment and Technology Department in the Directorate of Public Roads. The project covers the following research topics:
Reducing the total energy consumption of the road structure through:
- Harvesting energy for its own consumption or for delivery to the electricity grid
- Innovative measures to improve energy efficiency
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from road infrastructure
- Innovative materials in order to reduce material consumption
- Innovative structures to prolong life-spans
- Reducing material consumption and materials transport. (Less materials transport and more recycling of materials)
- Reducing emissions from operation and maintenance
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from road traffic
- Reducing emissions from traffic through improved road design
- Electrification of road infrastructure
- Prepare the corridor for carbon-neutral road traffic (transition to the zero-emission society)
Contributing towards climate-neutral and environmentally neutral road infrastructure
- ITS solutions (Intelligent Transport Systems) for future vehicles
- Preparing the infrastructure for low-emission vehicles
- Contributing towards environmentally sound roads
- Developing better tools for life cycle assessment with regard to the E39 route