IEA ES Task 38: Ground source de-icing and snow melting systems for infrastructure

Paper in proceeding, 2024

Abstract
Thermal de-icing and snow melting systems are alternatives to mechanical and chemical de-icing and snow removal e.g. for roads, bridge decks, ramps, and other transport infrastructure. Snow melting and de-icing systems with a hydronic heated pavement (HHP) are used in several countries in various applications, for infrastructure or other purposes, commonly using district heating return flow, electric heating, or gas boilers as heat sources. As an alternative, the ground can be used as a heat source for HHP systems, with or without the aid of heat pumps. Such HHP systems may also use the pavement as a solar heat collector in the summer. This will cool the road surface, prolonging the life span of asphalt roads by preventing rutting. In 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA), technology collaboration program (TCP) for energy storage (ES), initiated the international collaboration project Task 38 - Ground Source De-Icing and Snow Melting Systems for Infrastructure. Sweden, Türkiye, Italy, Germany, France, and Belgium are part of the collaboration project. This paper gives an overview of the work within Task 38, and the current state-of-the-art of ground source de-icing and snow melting systems for infrastructure.