European Fundend Projects

  • ID:
    projects-588
  • fiwar:
    LIFE17 ENV/ES/000252
  • Project_Acronym:
    LIFE NEXUS
  • Project_Name:
    Boosting the sustainability of the urban water cycle: energy harvest in water industry using micro-hydropower technology
  • Funding Authority:
    LIFE
  • Call for proposals:
    Environment
  • Focus Area:
    Renewable energies,Savings
  • Begin Date:
    2018-10-01
  • End Date:
    2024-12-31
  • Status:
    Completed
  • Budget:
    € 001 129 538.00
  • Description:
    LIFE NEXUS will show the potential of micro-hydropower systems to recover the untapped energy deriving from abundant pressure (water head) or kinetic energy (water flow) in existing water networks in cities. The project will install micro-hydropower technology (energy generation and energy management) and test it for 15 months at the Porma drinking water treatment plant in the city of León (Spain). It will also develop the first European inventory of micro-hydropower potential in urban water cycles and assess the technical and economic feasibility of using the technology in potential locations. LIFE NEXUS involves some 40 stakeholders from Belgium, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the UK. The project targets the thematic priority for water and is in line with other EU energy- and water-related policies. By engaging a significant number of entities and policymakers it will have an impact on policy implementation and development. Expected results: Generation of 215 MWh/yr of renewable electricity, harvested from the energy currently dissipated by a pressure reduction valve located at the entrance of a drinking water treatment plant; The micro-hydropower installation will meet all of the energy needs of the treatment plant, leading to a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, based on an assumption of 140 t CO2equiv. per year of operation; Reduction of water leakages in the treatment plant by 0.5%, or more than 42 000 m3/yr, as a consequence of improved pressure control at the entrance pipeline; Assessment of the quantitative energy recovery potential along urban water cycles in European cities. The minimum micro-hydropower plant capacity with a payback time of less than 10 years will be determined for the different countries; Successfully demonstrating the technical and economic feasibility of micro-hydropower will allow authorities to increase the competitiveness and improve the sustainability of urban water provision.
  • Resource:
    https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/LIFE17-ENV-ES-000252/boosting-the-sustainability-of-the-urban-water-cycle-energy-harvest-in-water-industry-using-micro-hydropower-technology
  • Inland water types:
    Urban water'