Bergamo is studying a method to measure and reduce pollution deriving from bus braking in built-up areas
It is called "RE-BREATH", acronym for REduction of Brake weaR Emissions in the Transport sector, and is an ambitious joint research project in the field of sustainable urban mobility that has been awarded European funding from the LIFE2021 program of the European Commission dedicated to environment and nature. In particular, the “RE-BREATH” project responded to the LIFE-2021-SAP-ENV call with the aim of contributing to the transition to a more sustainable economy and to the protection and improvement of environmental quality.
The project is coordinated by Brembo, a world leader in the development and production of braking systems, and involves major partners from the public and private sectors, such as the Municipality of Bergamo, which has long been promoting and supporting both local and international initiatives on sustainability issues. ; the National Research Council (CNR), which participates with the Institute on Atmospheric Pollution (CNR-IIA) and the Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials (CNR-ISMN); Arriva Italia Srl and Arriva Slovakia as.
The challenge of “RE-BREATH” is to improve the knowledge of the emissions of non-exhaust micro particles generated by the braking systems from the mobility of Local Public Transport (TPL); assess their impact on people's quality of life and on the environment and, finally, design and develop an innovative and more environmentally friendly braking system for buses as well as intervening with green mitigation works.
Brembo will develop and test a new braking system that will be installed on Arriva buses in the cities of Bergamo and Bratislava, in order to detect emissions and wear of the system. The CNR will carry out the characterization of emissions both on a laboratory scale and through direct measurements at the bus stop, and will use atmospheric dispersion models to evaluate the effects on air quality and impacts on health. Furthermore, the project will produce guidelines and a market analysis of the product that will contribute to the monitoring and improvement of the Life Cycle Assessment, both on the production process and on the materials used.
A study, therefore, that can allow the development of the knowledge necessary to reduce the emissions of pollutants into the air in conjunction with public transport stops: the study will have to identify not only the possible improvements in this sense, but also carry out any planting of “smog-eating” plants and shrubs, that is, capable of absorbing CO2 and fine particles, helping to improve air conditions for people waiting for public transport.
Through the shared commitment of all the companies involved, the "RE-BREATH" project not only intends to measure and demonstrate the reduction of PM10 emissions, relating to the braking system of buses at stops and in other hot-spots, but also to support the national authorities in the estimation of non-exhaust emissions (to be calculated in the EMEP / SEE emissions inventory, according to Directive 2016/2284 / EC), demonstrate the decrease in the brake wear rate and the consequent increase in the life of the brake system compared to to traditional solutions, contributing to the construction of more sustainable models.
“RE-BREATH” began last August and will last 36 months, with an overall budget of € 3.241.827,28.