From manure to
green asphalt
From manure to
green asphalt
Wet organic residual flows such as manure, roadside grass and sewage sludge are waste products from agriculture and water purification. We convert these into biocrude, a biological oily product that resembles fossil petroleum. We use the biocrude to produce, among other things, biobitumen for the production of green asphalt. We therefore reuse the waste products and replace fossil petroleum with biocrude.
HTU® Industries: The solution for nitrogen and climate.
Sustainable asphalt from biocrude
The Netherlands is fully committed to fossil-free asphalt and sets clear climate ambitions for road construction: 30% biobased binder (bitumen) in new asphalt in 2030 and completely fossil-free in 2050. This ambition is part of the broader national climate agreement, which aims to function fully climate-neutral and circular from 2050, as laid down in the Climate Act and the National Circular Economy Programme.
There are currently no legal obligations that directly require asphalt companies to switch to fossil-free bitumen, but there is strong pressure from public-private initiatives and tender requirements in which sustainability and CO₂ performance are central, including practical pilot projects with biobased binders. European law, including the recent Construction Products Regulation (EU 2024/3110), will make strict environmental performance and circular criteria mandatory for construction products, including asphalt, from 2026 via digital product passports and environmental documentation.
With biocrude from organic residual flows, HTU® Industries delivers the circular alternative to fossil bitumen. Our technology makes it possible to convert manure surpluses and other organic residual flows into high-quality biobitumen, which substantially reduces CO₂ emissions, eliminates ammonia and methane emissions and creates economic value for agricultural entrepreneurs.
How do we make biocrude?
Read on our HTU® Technology page how we efficiently convert organic residual flows into biocrude using the HTU® process.
From biocrude to bitumen
The biocrude already resembles bitumen in many ways, and is a direct replacement for fossil bitumen and can therefore be used for the production of green asphalt for roads and infrastructure. This biobitumen meets specifications for sustainable asphalt with lower CO₂ emissions.
Partly due to the extensive test program in the pilot plant at TNO in Apeldoorn, the revolutionary HTU® technology is currently qualified as TRL6 – TRL7. HTU® Industries BV has recently started a feasibility study for the use of HTU® technology for the conversion of manure into biocrude.
Advantages for road construction
- Converts wet organic waste streams, such as manure, roadside grass and sewage sludge, into biocrude, liquid CO₂, minerals (Renure) and clean water in 15 minutes.
- This biocrude is a direct replacement for fossil bitumen and can therefore be used for the production of green asphalt for roads and infrastructure.
- This biobitumen meets specifications for sustainable asphalt with lower CO₂ emissions.
- The HTU® technology is an almost completely circular process without harmful emissions or waste.
- There is 100% fossil CO₂ savings.
- CO₂ released from the wet organic residual flows is fully captured. This results in an additional emission reduction, resulting in a double climate gain.
- Virtually no ammonia and methane emissions.
- There is no impact on the food chain, no deforestation is required by exclusively using waste streams.
- Due to the extensive test program in the pilot plant at TNO in Apeldoorn, the revolutionary HTU® technology is currently qualified as TRL6 – TRL7.
Our HTU® technology makes a significant contribution to achieving climate goals and structurally reducing the current nitrogen problem. Every year, more manure is produced in the Netherlands than can be responsibly spread on farmland. This manure surplus can be fully processed by approximately twenty HTU® installations, each with a processing capacity of around 150 kilotons. By processing this surplus in a sustainable manner, nitrogen emissions from agriculture can be drastically reduced, bringing a structural solution to the nitrogen problem within reach.
HTU® Industries BV has started a feasibility study as the first phase for the deployment of HTU® technology for converting manure into biobitumen.
