Innovation and projects
Participation in various European research projects in order to innovate in technologies and sustainable solutions in the field of urban waste management with the aim of promoting circular economy.
RES URBIS
- More information Coordinated by the University of Rome La Sapienza, this project focuses on the development of an innovative technological sector for the integrated treatment of various urban solid wastes (such as municipal waste and municipal sewage sludge). In order to achieve its ambitious objectives, a consortium formed by 21 entities (see figure) has been created. This consortium consists of 8 European countries representing a population of approximately 9 million people. Among the different entities are eight universities (UB among them), companies, associations and public administrations.
The project is financed for three years with approximately 3 million euros under the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Community as a part of a programme designed specifically to promote circular economy. This programme is based on research and development with a dual objective: to minimize the unused amount of waste and to obtain new environmentally-friendly bioproducts using waste as a renewable alternative to oil resources.
The main objective of RES URBIS (from the Latin, "things of the city") is transforming urban waste into bioplastic that can be used in packaging (biodegradable, with interlayer film), in the production of long-lasting goods (such as computer cases, tablets and phones) and environmental remediation (such as slow carbon-release raw materials for groundwater remediation).
RES URBIS was presented in Rome on January 25th and its high potential for implementation was evidenced at the meeting by the fact that more than 300 million Europeans live in urban areas and that the average production of residual organic matter per person is of 100 grams per day.
Current recovery treatments are biomethanation for energy production and composting, which provides products with less added value. The development of innovative technologies such as the aforementioned ones allows for the transformation of this huge flow of organic material into useful products with high real market value and a positive impact on the environment, the economy and employment levels.
Financed by EU GA 730349
Program 8P2CCA - HORIZON 2020.
PILLAR 2-INDUSTRIAL
RES URBIS
Horizon 2020
Univesità di Roma Sapienza
LIFE+ Methamorphosis
- More information This project is funded by the European Commission as part of the LIFE programme, which helps to promote innovative technologies regarding environmental protection and climate change to foster changes in the development and application of policies by providing solutions and improvements. This project is coordinated by Aqualia with the participation of companies such as Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), Gas Natural (GN), SEAT, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) and the Catalan Institute for Energy (ICAEN) as consortium partners.
Biomethane coming from waste to mitigate climate change
This is a technology demonstration project with the same goals as the LIFE+ programme, in particular climate change mitigation through the use of renewable energy and, more specifically, the production of biomethane from waste treatment plants, thus reducing the emission of greenhouse gases in comparison to other fuels. It is a revolution in urban mobility and the development of the cities of the future. Furthermore, this initiative is in line with the guidelines about circular economy promoted by the European Community.
The project wants to demonstrate the feasibility at an industrial scale of two innovative waste treatment Systems: the UMBRELLA prototype at the AMB Ecopark in Montcada i Reixac and the METHAGRO prototype at the Porgaporcs food processing plant, owned by Ecobiogas.
Life Methamorphosis Project
Life programme
