immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Ziel

  • Efficient asphalt recycling in Switzerland

    Efficient asphalt recycling in Switzerland

    In Switzerland, the growing amount of old asphalt in landfills is a problem that is now being addressed through innovative research. The “HighRAP” project, led by Martins Zaumanis and in collaboration with authorities and industry partners, aims to maximise the use of recycled asphalt in road construction.

    Challenges and solutions
    Waste asphalt is a challenging resource. Its binder, bitumen, ages and stiffens over time, making it difficult to use. In addition, old asphalt is often a mixture of different road layers and time periods, which affects its homogeneity. Zaumanis’ research project offers solutions here. Specialised testing methods and a newly developed computational model make it easier to reuse old asphalt.

    Practical tests and applications
    The project has already proven its practicality in two pilot projects. In Uster, it was possible to incorporate up to 50% recycled asphalt into the road surface without sacrificing performance. Even on the climatically challenging Lukmanier Pass, asphalt with high recycled content was successfully used. These results encourage the expanded use of recycled materials.

    Forward-looking research
    The project not only offers practical solutions for road construction, but also sheds new light on the possibilities of using recycled material efficiently and sustainably. Martins Zaumanis is confident that his research will help to significantly reduce the amount of used asphalt in landfills.

    With the “HighRAP” project, sustainable road construction in Switzerland is taking off. New methods, political will and successful practical tests make a future with less waste and more recycling in road construction seem realistic.

  • Second tube of the Gotthard tunnel: first tunnel boring machine “Carla” at its destination

    Second tube of the Gotthard tunnel: first tunnel boring machine “Carla” at its destination

    Sometimes Carla, with her followers more than 200 m long, came slowly, sometimes much faster than planned, depending on the nature of the rock. On average, Carla covered about 17 m per day. Her record performance is 45.4 m per day, achieved in rather soft gneiss.

    TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION IS TEAMWORK
    “It’s great that we were able to excavate the northern access tunnel on time and, above all, without any significant accidents,” says Jacopo Cheda, head of northern construction at FEDRO. Xavier von Mandach, Implenia’s site manager in charge, emphasises the good cooperation: “Tunnel construction is always teamwork. Our team, consisting of several companies and colleagues from many nations, has a great deal of experience and works in a highly professional manner. Together we were able to successfully master the technical challenges and reach this important milestone without incident. The team did a great job.”

    WHAT’S NEXT
    The excavation of the access tunnel, which runs parallel to the future second tunnel tube, also provided important findings for the other construction work that will be carried out in the future, which are important for Carla’s “big sister”, which will excavate the northern section of the main tube from 2025.

    In August 2022, FEDRO awarded the “secondo tubo” consortium with Implenia (60%) and Frutiger (40%) the contract for the northern main lot (Lot 241) of the second tube of the Gotthard road tunnel. The construction period for the 7.9 km long tunnel section up to the lot boundary in the middle of the tunnel is scheduled until 2029.

    The construction of the second tube will be driven simultaneously from the north and from the south. A total of four TBMs will be used for this: two smaller ones (Carla and Delia) for the two access tunnels and the two large ones with a shield diameter of over twelve metres for the main tunnel.

    Source: implenia.com

  • Andermatt Swiss Alps makes progress in sustainability

    Andermatt Swiss Alps makes progress in sustainability

    The Andermatt Swiss Alps Group and Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG have defined sustainability goals for 2021. The “AndermattResponsible 2022 Progress Report” now provides a first interim status. For the report, the two companies had their greenhouse gas footprint calculated for the third time.

    In absolute terms, the emissions of the two companies in 2022 were 44.4 percent higher than in the previous year, informs the Andermatt Swiss Alps Group in a statement about the report. The company attributes the increase to the ongoing construction work in Andermatt Reuss and higher guest numbers. On the other hand, the average emissions per guest in the business have “mostly decreased, as the partly fixed greenhouse gas emissions of the skiing area, hotel business and gastronomy accrue to a larger number of guests”.

    Indirect emissions from the provision of energy were very low in 2022, as electricity and heat for the new buildings and the operation of the mountain railways are supplied with regional and climate-neutral electricity. In addition, energy consumption was reduced by 10 per cent compared to the previous year. In the reporting year, several projects were also carried out to reduce waste and combat food waste.

    In the reduction of waste, the two companies have already exceeded their set target of reducing the amount by 20 per cent. Specifically, 28.3 per cent less waste was generated in the reporting year than in the 2019 reference year. At 40 per cent, the rate of local staffing in catering was also already above the target of 35 per cent.

  • Heat concept from waste incineration and heat from the lake is being examined

    Heat concept from waste incineration and heat from the lake is being examined

    According to a press release , the energy supply companies Energie Kreuzlingen , Stadtwerke Konstanz , the KVA Thurgau association from Weinfelden TG and EKT AG from Arbon TG want to join forces in order to use new heat sources more optimally in a cross-border alliance.

    A heat supply concept is being considered in which the use of CO2-neutral waste heat from the waste incineration plant of the KVA via district heating line and seawater heat from the Constance funnel are combined.

    The four partners called in Swisspower AG to examine the feasibility of the project from a technical, economic, legal and organizational point of view. A result is expected in the course of the year.

    Swisspower supports municipal utilities and energy suppliers with cooperation initiatives, consulting services and networking offers on the way to energy systems without CO2 emissions.