• Under the title “Energy transition for Europe – Tools and Tips by LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0”, the LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 project has organised an online side event today, Wednesday 17 May from 10:00 to 11:45 CEST.
  • This online meeting brought together experts and representatives of some European projects to exchange best practices on energy transition.
  • At the event, the jury of the new LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 SEUA call for proposals was officially presented, which will be awarded within the framework of Greencities and S-Moving in FYCMA on 20 and 21 September.

17/05/2023, Brussels. Today, Wednesday 17th May from 10:00 to 11:45 CEST, the European project LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0, of which Finnova Foundation is a partner, held an online event entitled “Energy transition for Europe – Tools and Tips by LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0” in the framework of the European Commission’s European Sustainable Energy Week.

The event was opened and moderated by Alexandra Pokatina, EU Projects Assistant at Finnova, and was attended by representatives of other European projects related to energy transition and circular economy.

Adrián Noheda, Director of Innovation and Environment at Finnova, opened the first panel of experts by explaining the new call of the LIFE Programme. After his intervention, Elisa Mazo, Research Technician at Mare and representative of LIFE-3E; Carlos Lafita, R&D&I technician of Global Omnium, leading partner of LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0; Miguel Vega, head of the LIFE-myBUILDINGisGREEN project; Vincenzo Bianco of the Horizon RES4CITY project; and Xavier Gamisans, coordinator of LIFE BIOGASNET, took the floor.

To conclude this section, Juanma Revuelta, CEO of the Finnova Foundation, emphasised the importance of continuing to bring together efforts for the effective promotion of biogas and other innovative sustainable solutions, with special mention of emerging business models and available regulatory channels.

New call for LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 SEUA

Manuela Granada, Communication and EU Projects at Finnova, presented the new call LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0. SEUA, focused on emerging companies that provide innovative solutions to the challenges of ecological transition, energy efficiency and the fight against climate change. The awards ceremony will take place on 21 September in the framework of Greencities and S-Moving at the Trade Fairs and Congress Centre of Malaga (FYCMA) and the registration of proposals will remain open until 31 July at 23:59 CEST through this link.

The successful candidate will benefit from a European acceleration ticket, consisting of a training programme on European legislation and funds, and mentoring to turn the idea into a real and measurable project funded by the EU with up to €5 million. They will also have access to a networking network and investors with whom they will learn good management practices in the European legal framework and techniques for the internationalisation of the project.

The event ended with the official presentation of the jury of these awards, composed of Elías Colom, Corporate Marketing Director of Global Omnium; Mark Barker, CEO of WEX Global (both present at the event) and João Simão, Executive Director of the Portuguese Water Partnership (PWP).

You can watch the online seminar here:

Energy transition for Europe – Tools and Tips by LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 – YouTube

About European Sustainable Energy Week

The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) will be held in a hybrid format in Brussels from 20-22 June under the theme “Accelerating the clean energy transition – towards lower bills and greater skills”. The aim of this year’s event is to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy in the European Union. This edition will bring together policy conferences, leading figures and a full programme of sessions and debates on building clean energy for a green Europe. Throughout May and June, different European projects will be able to organise side-events in the framework of the EUSEW.

About LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0

This is a pilot demonstration project, funded by the LIFE programme and with a budget of more than 970,000 euros, which generates biogas in sewage treatment plant digesters by mixing putrescible organic waste (slurry, poultry, organic fractions, MSW, horeca, etc.), thus transforming sewage sludge into green energy through technology. The initiative led by Global Omnium, (Spain), in collaboration with the Finnova Foundation (Belgium) and Águas do Centro Litoral (Portugal) aims to become the most versatile digestion control tool on the market, achieving environmental and economic benefits through the production of biogas by making optimal use of waste. Thanks to this technology, it favours the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the use of sewage sludge generated in wastewater treatment processes, thus achieving a positive impact on the environment. This programme is easily scalable with other funds such as FEDER, NextGenerationEU or Repower EU.

About LIFE-3E

LIFE-3E is a European project of more than 1.7 million euros from the LIFE programme for the energy recovery of WWTP effluents in coastal urban areas. The main objective is the demonstration of an innovative process that allows the regeneration of water from WWTP, integrating the production of renewable energy through the recovery of the energy contained in the difference in salinity between seawater and treated water.

About LIFE-myBUILDINGisGREEN 

LIFE-myBUILDINGisGREEN is a project co-funded by the LIFE programme of the European Union that focuses on the implementation of nature-based solutions in public educational buildings and social centres as climate change adaptation solutions, improving environmental health and comfort.

About RES4CITY 

RES4CITY is a 36-month project, starting in Q4 2022, funded by the European Union, which aims to enhance the development of sustainable renewable energy and fuel technologies in cities by co-designing an innovative educational programme, promoting sustainability and circularity for a successful energy transition.

About LIFE BIOGASNET

LIFE BIOGASNET is a LIFE project working on a sustainable biogas purification system for landfills and municipal solid waste treatment plants. The project focuses on promoting renewable energy production through the circular economy concept: reducing waste generation, reducing the carbon footprint of the desulphurisation process and producing secondary raw materials such as elemental sulphur and ammonium sulphate.

About WEX Global

WEX Global occupies a unique place in the water conference calendar. Business meetings and conversations are at the heart of WEX, along with the principle of ‘exchange’; the sharing of ideas and philosophies, business cards, solutions and methodologies, to form strong networks on which to build stronger relationships. We will also host more than 80 speakers, from over 40 countries, who will discuss critical issues related to water, energy and climate change: smart circular solutions to build a better world.

About Startup Europe Awards 

The Startup Europe Awards (SEUA) is an initiative promoted by the European Commission, launched by the Finnova Foundation in collaboration with StartUp Europe. It is an open innovation tool that allows companies to identify talented startups capable of solving today’s challenges in multiple areas. Its mission is to help Startups and Scaleups become more efficient, smarter and more successful. These awards are a useful tool to promote knowledge sharing, add value to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and help startups to grow and position themselves in the market.

About Finnova Foundation

Finnova is the Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels and Spain, working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship in the EU. Finnova’s experience in leading communication and dissemination activities for European projects is combined with a proven track record in business creation and entrepreneurship support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and events, as well as its commitment to training and employability of young people.