Energy ashes - A sustainable construction material

Important results from the project

The project aims to create better opportunities for the use of energy ashes in constructions in urban areas and thus replacing virgin raw materials and achieve greater resource efficiency. The initial project focused on identifying the needs, requirements and potential solutions for enhanced usage of energy ashes, bringing together the relevant stakeholders and choosing the solutions that are considered to have the greatest potential. Through the two workshops held within the project, these issues have been highlighted and representatives of the industry brought together.

Expected long term effects

Use of bottom ashes as construction material in hard surfaces and fly ash as a binder component are the solutions that will be further developed in the joint project. For these applications, there is a great potential, distinct need and ideas about what activities need to be implemented in order to meet the needs. Value chains for these solutions are well represented among the project partners and other stakeholders in the project. The results achieved in the initial project constitute a good base for the subsequent steps to achieve the expected effects.

Approach and implementation

The work carried out in the initial project was essentially based on two workshops held for representatives of the value chain (one only for project partners). In the workshop addressed also to external stakeholders, group discussions based on pre-defined questions was applied to get input on relevant issues. The data was compiled and processed by the project team and then included in the project reporting and as a basis for the structure of the joint project. In parallel, there has been a continuous dialogue with stakeholders from the industry for continued cooperation in the next phase.