Optimizing RCA and Related Products Production process using Renewable Energy

¹ Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
² Department of Civil Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, India

^* Santhosh Paramasivam: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
^† Flavio Stochino: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
^‡ Gianluca Gatto: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published online: 25 November 2025

Abstract

The change in climate and the increased frequency of unexpected natural disasters (like earthquakes, landslides, floods, and such) has induced obligatory interest in the construction industry focusing on sustainable practices, particularly in producing recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and related products to reduce environmental impact. This study highlights the significance of integrating renewable energy sources and advanced power electronics to enhance the RCA production process. Using renewable energy ystems helps minimize the carbon footprint of crushing, sorting, and processing concrete waste. Power electronics are critical in enhancing energy efficiency, enabling precise machinery control, and ensuring seamless integration of intermittent renewable energy into the production workflow. The study evaluates this approach's technical and economic feasibility through case studies, emphasizing potential energy savings, reduced operational costs, and enhanced sustainability metrics. The incorporation of renewable energy systems with power-electronic technologies would be a effective and efficient choice for transforming the traditional RCA manufacturing process into energy-efficient. The innovative adoption of vibration-based energy harvesting making use of mechanical waste (vibration) into useful energy elevates the RCA Process and products a green and sustainable. In conclusion, this study and proposal enhances the understanding of sustainable construction materials and offers insights for researchers and industry stakeholders aiming to utilize ecofriendly technologies.