en.Wedoany.com Reported - Barcelona, Spain, is developing a new type of biochar asphalt that could reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with urban paving by up to 76%. The technology, promoted by the Barcelona City Council (Ayuntamiento de Barcelona), BIMSA, BIT Habitat, and the Barcelona Provincial Council (la Diputación de Barcelona), is implemented by ELSAN and AMSA in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) as part of an innovative project called "Biochar."
The urban heat island effect is one of the challenges facing many large cities today. Dark surfaces such as asphalt and concrete absorb solar radiation and release it slowly at night, leading to persistent high temperatures. Barcelona hopes to explore new pathways to reduce the environmental impact of streets and enhance climate resilience through this initiative.
The technology utilizes biochar made from olive and pine biomass to replace the limestone filler commonly used in traditional asphalt mixtures. Biochar is produced by controlled heating of organic matter, transforming agricultural or forestry waste into a component of urban infrastructure. This innovation offers a dual benefit: it reuses waste that would typically be discarded or incinerated, while the biochar acts as a carbon sink, storing some carbon within the pavement and preventing it from returning to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
According to information released by the project leaders and published on Bioguía, the project can reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with asphalt production by approximately 76%.
Tests show that the new material can match or even exceed the strength of traditional asphalt, while also offering good water resistance, a lower risk of cracking, and more stable responses to extreme temperature variations. These characteristics are particularly important for Mediterranean cities facing increasingly frequent heatwaves.
Biochar asphalt is not an isolated initiative. A growing number of cities and research institutions are exploring how urban materials can help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Recently introduced, bloc° is an innovative 3D-printed terracotta brick system, inspired by techniques used in ancient Egypt, that utilizes evaporative cooling to create small heat relief zones in squares, parks, and public transit stops.
While bloc° aims to directly cool specific urban spaces, the Biochar project focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of street construction materials. They are different strategies but share the same concept: the cities of the future will rely not only on more trees, green spaces, or shade, but also on materials that can reduce emissions and improve the thermal performance of their surroundings.
The Biochar project is part of Barcelona's "21st Century Street Section" (La sección de calle del siglo XXI) call for proposals, which seeks innovative solutions for building more sustainable streets.
Another initiative called RePavimenta was also selected, focusing on incorporating recycled materials to reduce emissions associated with urban paving. These projects are currently in the research and prototyping phase and will continue until September 2026. After that, the first pilot tests will be launched on city streets, with materials monitored for approximately one year to assess their strength, durability, and economic feasibility.
If the results are positive, the first streets using the new asphalt could begin paving in 2027. The project establishes a link between agricultural waste and urban infrastructure. As one of the world's largest producers of olives and olive oil, Spain generates significant amounts of agricultural waste annually. Transforming this residue into construction materials opens new opportunities for the circular economy.
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