• LIFE Ecodigestion 2.0 is a European project aiming the production of biogas through the optimal exploitation of re-waste. 
  • Renewable energy production and circular economy were the key points of the meeting.
  • Speakers gave their views on the current biogas landscape in Europe and presented projects on wastewater treatment.
  • The event took place during the World Energy Saving Day 2021.

Brussels, 21.20.2021 – On Thursday 21 October, a conference to discuss the challenges of the circular economy in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) to generate green energy took place, with the European project LIFE Ecodigestion 2.0 as the central focus, coinciding with World Energy Saving Day. This event is part of the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), which will be held between 25 and 29 October under the theme: “Towards 2010: reshaping Europe’s energy system”.

LIFE Ecodigestion 2.0 project partners Global Omnium, Finnova and Águas o Centro Litoral participated in this online event together with other entities in order to present their innovative European projects and initiatives in the field of renewable energies.

Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, opened the conference with an overview of the situation of biogas production in Spain. He insisted on rethinking the way in which organic waste is being managed and the need to use the infrastructures we already have to take advantage of this waste and use it in an intelligent and sustainable way. He also added that good waste management can bring benefits such as reduced logistics costs, lower energy costs, while avoiding the opening of new landfills.

Pau Granell, head of Global Omnium’s Quart-Benàger wastewater treatment plant, explained the biogas production processes, the plant’s workflows and the disruptive technologies involved on their development, including more robust software, the use of a real-time model of the anaerobic digester and machine learning.

Sandra Jorge, Director of Water Supply Operations at Águas do Centro Litoral in Portugal, presented the company and the staff, the work processes in terms of water supply and sanitation, as well as its role as a partner in the European LIFE Ecodigestion 2.0 project in Coimbrão WWTP Leiria. This company aims to reduce energy consumption and increase the production of renewable energy. From its facilities, they carry out analyses of potential substrate producers in the vicinity of the plant, sends operating data for the calibration of the he-tools and exports pig slurry for analysis. Further on, Elena Más, head of European projects at the Finnova Foundation, focused her speech on issues related to the financing of European projects and presented the Innovation Fund programme, which will provide support for the commercial demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies with the aim of bringing clean industrial solutions to the market in view of the transition to climate neutrality in the European Union.

Overview of the current biogas landscape in the EU

Harmen Dekker, director of the European Biogas Association (EBA), gave an updated overview of the biogas situation in Europe, presenting it as a renewable alternative to natural gas by preventing emissions throughout the value chain and as a renewable fuel that can displace fossil fuels as energy sources.

Carmen Bosch, R&D project manager at Eurecat, presented the LIFE Infusion project, a waste effluent treatment system that allows converting and recovering useful and sustainable resources such as biogas, biofertilisers and reclaimed water based on the concept of circular economy and looking for an improvement in the current wastewater treatment.

Then, Juan Viesca, director of European projects of Finnova, presented the various opportunities and lines of financing that Europe offers for projects in the field of renewable energies and circular economy with the aim of developing them on a more industrial scale and seeking ecological and digital transformation.

To watch the event, click here:

United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021

Finally, Juan Manuel Revuelta launched the 4 challenges of the COP26 Startup Europe Awards in 4 categories, whose prizes will be awarded in the corresponding official COP26 events, co-organised by Finnova during November. The first event and challenge will take place on Friday 5 November from Brussels, with the central theme on bioeconomy, showcasing the Life Ecodigestion 2.0 project as a success story.

Finnova officially launched the BieconomyCOP26 Startup Europe Awards to search for the most innovative idea, project or startup in bieconomics.

The bioeconomy is an economic model based on the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources into value-added products, such as bio-based products, bioenergy and services.

To participate in this call click here:

http://seua.inscripciones.nextenergygeneration.eu/

About LIFE

LIFE is the EU fund dedicated to environmental objectives for the 2014-2020 period. Its main objective is to act as a catalyst for changes in the development and application of policies through solutions and improvements to meet the climate and environment goals. It also promotes innovative technologies in the climate change and environmental fields.

About Global Omnium

The company that gave rise to Global Omnium, Aguas de Valencia, was founded in 1890. Global Omnium specializes in water treatment. It provides its services to 5.5 million people in more than 300 Spanish cities, but it also operates in three other continents. Global Omnium is based on a social commitment, and it is made up of centenary companies that have been contributing to the growth of the cities and municipalities in which they work for more than a century.

https://www.globalomnium.com/Grupo/Inicio/

About Finnova Foundation

Finnova Foundation is a European foundation that finances innovation. Its objectives are to promote private-public cooperation through the technology transfer of low-cost solutions among the best available technologies to address social challenges such as employment, entrepreneurship, the United Nations SDGs, and the circular economy. Committed to innovation, Finnova has been organising the Startup Europe Awards since 2016, an initiative launched by the European Comission’s DG CONNECT.

Headquartered in Belgium, Finnova also has branches across Spain – in the Valencian Community, the Basque Country, Andalusia, Madrid, and the Canary Islands – as well as in Chile and Panama.

www.finnova.eu