Asphalt collectors involve a series of pipes built into a tarmac road, through which water runs that is heated by the sun. The lower yield compared with solar collectors is offset by the larger surface area. The need to transport the heat means that this system is limited to tarmac roads in towns and cities. An added benefit is that these collectors cool the roads during the summer, extending the useful life of the tarmac. In some countries, for example Switzerland, some of the heat captured with this system is used to keep the roads free of snow and ice in winter. Weijers et al., 2007

Literature

• Weijers E.P., Groot G.J. de; Energiewinning uit weginfrastructuur; ECN, 2007