| projects-321 |
101082048 |
MAR2PROTECT |
PREVENTING GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION RELATED TO GLOBAL AND CLIMATE CHANPREVENTING GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION RELATED TO GLOBAL AND CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH A HOLISTIC APPROACH ON MANAGED AQUIFER RECHARGE |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-CL6-2022-ZEROPOLLUTION-01 |
HORIZON-CL6-2022-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-01 |
2022-12-01 |
2026-11-30 |
On going |
€ 004 143 681.25 |
The impact climate and global change (CC and GC) is endangering human health, food security and biodiversity. Urgent action is needed to achieve 2030 zero pollution goals.MAR2PROTECT will provide a holistic approach to prevent groundwater (GW) contamination from GC and CC impacts based on a new-generation managed aquifer recharge (MAR). The core of the innovative MAR is the M-AI-R DSS that will incorporate technological and societal engagement information using an AI-based evaluation to improve GW quality. To ensure a high replication potential, M-AI-R DSS will collect information from 5 demo sites in EU (PT, IT, ES, NL) and 2 in non-EU countries (TN, ZA) which were carefully chosen by their degree of maturity from previous successful projects and a wide range of settings in terms of climatic conditions, water sources, type of pollution, MAR scheme and political/societal context. All technologies will be tested and validated until TRL5. MAR2PROTECT will ensure a strong engagement of civil society in GW prevention actions, up to a SRL equal to 6. The project will involve national and EU policy makers that, in collaboration with a Community of Practice formed by worldwide experts, will guarantee the strengthening EU policy for the prevention of GW contamination.Thanks to its holistic approach and to the high replicability of its results, MAR2PROTECT will lead to a marked enhancement in GW protection across the EU and beyond, and to the generation of knowledge for the transition to a sustainable water management. The consortium includes 8 partners and 1 affiliated entity from 6 different EU-countries and Switzerland and 2 international partners from Tunisia and South Africa: 2 Universities (UNIBO, KTU), 7 RTOs (NOVA-COO, CIIMAR, CETAND +AQUA, IHE, IT, ISSBAT, SUWI) and 1 Association (FEUGA). In addition, the inclusion of 3 large water utilities as associated partners and a policy maker from ZA will lead to a relevant enhancement of the project impact. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101082048 |
Groundwater' |
| projects-322 |
101079305 |
Sol2H2O |
European Twinning for research in Solar energy to (2) water (H2O) production and treatment technologies |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-03 |
HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-03-01 |
2022-12-01 |
2025-11-30 |
On going |
€ 001 491 531.25 |
While the largest resource to avail is saline water, desalination faces two main challenges to its sustainability: the energy consumption required for the process and the waste residual brine, that can have a serious environmental impacts. Whereas the combination of Solar PV with Reverse Osmosis or Solar Thermal heat with Distillation processes has been developed along the recent decades into commercially available solar desalination solutions, the innovative integration of brine valorization and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) concepts aims at developing strategies to close the material loop, minimizing the liquid waste. The integration of these technologies results in a ZLD solar-powered desalination system - a circular economy scheme with the production of fresh water and recovery of valuable resources from the waste of the process.Gathering the experience of three non-Widening (TOP) partners presenting some of the most outstanding background and Research Infrastructure (RI), at European level, in the development of Solar-driven water production and wastewater treatment technologies (WP&WT), Sol2H2O aims at supporting the Coordinator (WIDENING) partner in the development of establishment of high-level research in this field. Based on the outstanding WIDENING RI and background in Solar Energy technologies and on its preliminary experiences in the Water-Energy nexus field, Sol2H2O seeks the development and implementation of a common scientific strategy, with a strong focus on an enhanced capacity building of researchers, going beyond purely scientific capacities and strengthening their research management and administration skills. By means of a common research strategy aiming at further developing Solar-driven Water-Energy Nexus solutions, Sol2H20 aims at creating a reference European facility for the development and testing of Circular Solar-driven Water Production & Treatment technologies, enabling the development of renewable gas or agriculture activities. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101079305 |
Urban water', 'Coastal waters' |
| projects-323 |
101084110 |
TRANSCEND |
Transformational and Robust AdaptatioN to water Scarcity and ClimatE chaNge under Deep uncertainty |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-CL6-2022-CLIMATE-01 |
HORIZON-CL6-2022-CLIMATE-01-01 |
2023-01-01 |
2026-12-31 |
On going |
€ 004 474 768.75 |
Worldwide, water resources management is increasingly challenged by water scarcity and climate change, which can trigger and aggravate other ecological (e.g. pests) and socioeconomic threats (e.g. commodity price fluctuations) via feedback loops and cascading impacts across systems. In this context, planning for the future is rife with uncertainties for which conventional decision-making methods and policies are inadequate. The objective of TRANSCEND is to identify and catalyze the adoption of Transformational Adaptation Policies (TAP) to water scarcity, including innovative allocation systems and economic instruments, that are robust and adaptable to uncertainty and change, while simultaneously achieving equitable and sustainable economic growth and welfare. To this end, TRANSCEND will develop a groundbreaking ecosystem of innovation that combines three key pillars: (i) a knowledge network for stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing, (ii) an actionable modeling suite that integrates interdisciplinary socio-ecological science and ensemble forecasting to guide TAP design, and (iii) an accounting and monitoring toolbox that supports implementation and enforcement of TAP in practice. TRANSCEND will apply the ecosystem of innovation to design and implement TAP in 7 labs: JĂşcar River Basin (RB) (Spain); Reno RB (Italy); Tympaki RB (Greece); Nitra RB (Slovakia); Caplina-Mauri-Desaguadero RB (Peru, Chile & Bolivia); Orontes RB (Lebanon, Syria & Turkey); and Mahanadi RB (Indian states of Chhattisgarh & Odisha). TRANSCEND will leverage this diverse set of demonstrators to initiate adoption of the ecosystem of innovation in 8+ inspiration labs, train 160+ transformation agents, and mainstream uncertainty analysis in key national and European Green Deal strategies. This will provide the knowledge and tools to catalyze robust and systemic transformations to water scarcity and climate change globally, with a clear impact pathway towards TAP adoption in 100+ basins by 2030. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101084110 |
Rivers and estuaries' |
| projects-324 |
101060020 |
NORDBALT-ECOSAFE |
Nitrogen and phosphorus load reduction approach within safe ecological boundaries for the Nordic-Baltic region |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-CL6-2021-ZEROPOLLUTION-01 |
HORIZON-CL6-2021-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-01 |
2022-09-01 |
2025-08-31 |
On going |
€ 001 999 008.75 |
The NORDBALT-ECOSAFE project involves eight partners in the Nordic-Baltic region and includes seven work packages and a cross-cutting issue on climate change. The project aims to develop new standards for setting safe ecological boundaries in water bodies and novel nutrient regulations using models, mitigation and policy tools and governance schemes. We will make an in-depth assessment of nutrient reference conditions and establish harmonised safe ecological boundaries for various biological indicators in water bodies, including climate change impacts. We will apply a state-of-the-art catchment model (SWAT+) to the project’s six river basins to demonstrate to stakeholders how to estimate nutrient concentrations, loads, sources and pathways, followed by a comparison of our findings with existing national models to assess model credibility. The water body status after adoption of the new ecological boundaries will be investigated using the SWAT+ output and an analysis of a large-scale river dataset on the entire Nordic-Baltic region. In NORDBALT-ECOSAFE we will produce guidance for the use of high frequency sensors in nutrient monitoring and their pros and cons compared to standard monitoring techniques. An analysis of trends in river stoichiometry (CNP) in the region will be made and the outcome compared with that of historical policies. We will develop novel indicators for balancing GHG emissions with nutrient loadings to water bodies and a framework for novel nature-based solutions (NBSs) and mitigation measures (MMs), including guidance for optimum efficiency for nutrient reduction and side effects. Finally, a River Basin Management Support System for implementing NBSs and MMs in river basins to meet nutrient reduction targets will be developed and demonstrated. Stakeholders and policy makers will be involved at all project stages. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101060020 |
Rivers and estuaries', 'Coastal waters' |
| projects-325 |
101112736 |
Restore4Life |
Restoration of wetland complexes as life supporting systems in the Danube Basin |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-MISS-2022-OCEAN-01 |
HORIZON-MISS-2022-OCEAN-01-02 |
2023-06-01 |
2027-05-31 |
On going |
€ 008 499 953.75 |
Restore4Life demonstrates the multiple socio-economic benefits generated by a holistic and transdisciplinary approach for the restoration of freshwater and coastal wetlands in the Danube basin that will contribute to new blue-green infrastructure supporting regional climate change resilience and mitigation. Restore4Life engages in 4 demonstration sites and 6 monitoring sites all across the Danube basin to make evident that increased delivery of key ecosystem services, as water and pollutant retention, carbon sequestration and tourism opportunities as well as improved resilience of water-dependent habitats will produce multiple socio-economic synergies that also provide opportunities for sustainable businesses and investments.Implementation of activities basically aiming to restore lateral connectivity in riverine corridors will be supported by a Restore4Life long term wetland restoration service/ Restore4Life Wetland Reconstruction Accelerator that combines timely integrative wetland management with a novel level of societal engagement. The Accelerator will provide tested indicators, monitoring approaches and decision support to identify adapted and future-oriented restoration goals, techniques and holistic road maps. Citizens and stakeholders will be empowered to engage in the co-design of projects by establishing stakeholder communities of practice, by twinning of similar projects at different realization stage, citizen science, thematic mobile apps and the use of multiple communication channels with special focus on visual, hands-on interactive information flow that promotes emotional links to water shaped environment. The various tools generated by Restore4Life also including handbooks for business audiences and targeted restoration roadmaps will secure the efficient replication of restoration activities in associated regions. In collaboration with similar mission activities, Restore4Life thus efficiently supports integrative social and economic transitions |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101112736 |
Wetlands', 'Rivers and estuaries', 'Coastal waters' |
| projects-326 |
190153745 |
WHYLD |
Worlwide HYdrological Large-scale Database |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-EIC-2023-ACCELERATOR-01 |
HORIZON-EIC-2023-ACCELERATOROPEN-01 |
2023-06-01 |
2025-06-30 |
On going |
€ 003 672 543.75 |
vorteX.io offers an innovative and intelligent service for monitoring hydrological surfaces, using in-situ remote sensing instruments, based on compact light-weight altimeter inspired from satellite technology: the micro-stations©. It provides in real time, with a high frequency and accuracy, hydro-meteorological parameters (water surface height, water surface velocity, images & videos) of the observed watercourses. The combination of these in-situ data with satellite measurements is thus optimal for downstream services related to water resources management and assessment of flood/drought risks.Thanks to the development of the innovative micro-station© and the onboard processing using artificial intelligence algorithms, the WHYLD project will provide an anytime/anywhere real time hydro-meteorological database to prevent communities from flood risks and secure goods anywhere at any time. The project thus aims to cover the whole Europe through a non-binding turnkey service. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/190153745 |
Rivers and estuaries' |
| projects-327 |
101060497 |
EcoAdvance |
Assessing and Consolidating Recent Advances on Freshwater Ecosystem Restoration |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-CL6-2021-BIODIV-01 |
HORIZON-CL6-2021-BIODIV-01-09 |
2022-08-01 |
2025-01-31 |
On going |
€ 000 499 995.00 |
The alarming state of freshwater ecosystems today: Freshwater ecosystems degraded due to barriers / other morphological changes; loss of wetlands / floodplains; over abstraction of surface / ground waters; land management that reduces infiltration / generates pollution!Millions of euros and hours in ecosystem restoration works have made improvements, yet not stemmed the tide of biodiversity loss. The overwhelming complexity and diversity of approaches, the sheer mass of sometimes contradictory data, the frighteningly heavy toll that failures take on public perception of the potential for Europe to succeed, the lack of media understanding of the challenges and our potential to deal with them – all of these demand a multi-pronged, country-by country campaign to consolidate recent scientific advances and innovations and to train the media to communicate them and the evidence that Europe can indeed halt biodiversity loss. EcoAdvance will co-create, through broad consultations and crowdsourcing, a user-friendly Prone2Success Checklist cataloguing the climate, environmental, economic, scientific, technological and human factors, country by country, that can make a difference and how to duplicate them. EcoAdvance will consolidate recent scientific advances, drive media messaging and put a persuasive human face on freshwater ecosystem restoration successes - all from the perspectives of the people who did them, pursued, supported, tested, modified, demonstrated or evaluated them. By identifying and showcasing successful people, science and solutions that are “bending the curve”, EcoAdvance will bring guidance from personal journeys to support current leaders, scientists and decisionmakers who face some of the same challenges and dilemmas the successful have already navigated, as they try to figure out: Will this work? Is it worth the money, time and effort? Is it the right thing to do for our community and our circumstances? |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101060497 |
Rivers and estuaries', 'Wetlands', 'Groundwater' |
| projects-328 |
101112906 |
SpongeBoost |
Upscaling the natural sponge functions of freshwater ecosystems to deliver multi-benefit green deal solutions |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-MISS-2022-CLIMA-01 |
HORIZON-MISS-2022-CLIMA-01-05 |
2024-01-01 |
2027-12-31 |
On going |
€ 002 999 918.75 |
The project “SpongeBoost - upscaling the natural sponge functions of freshwater ecosystems to deliver multi-benefit Green Deal solutions” gathered a consortium of 10 partners from 7 European countries with interdisciplinary backgrounds in research, policy and management, to collect and recommend the best solutions for effectively increasing or restoring the natural water retention function of the landscape. By compiling available knowledge and best practice tools, combined with adapting and testing new innovative approaches, a roadmap will be developed to engage regions and communities in active implementing of transformative measures to improve resilience to extreme events. By synthesising knowledge for policy-making, hands-on restoration, and adaptive land-use planning, as well as showcasing successful examples of sponge restoration and the multifunctional benefits, stakeholders from the local to the European scale will be engaged and supported in implementing cost-effective and innovative solutions for restoring the sponge function of soils in wetlands and groundwater surface water systems. The active participation in development and testing ensures that innovative solutions are moved closer to the market. Thus, SpongeBoost will contribute to achieving the ambitious targets of the EU Climate Change Adaptation Mission and its Implementation Plan to maximize climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity and other societal benefits from nature-based solution. SpongeBoost consortium members are involved in various restoration projects and work closely with relevant actors promoting networking and knowledge exchange and creating synergies at regional level and across all regions of Europe. They contribute to SpongeBoost's overarching goal of making a lasting positive impact on sponge restoration for climate change adaptation. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101112906 |
Wetlands', 'Groundwater' |
| projects-329 |
101060329 |
NEW-HARMONICA |
HARMONISED NUTRIENT LOAD REDUCTION APPROACHES WITHIN SAFE ECOLOGICAL BOUNDARIES IN CATCHMENTS LOCATED IN NW EU |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-CL6-2021-ZEROPOLLUTION-01 |
HORIZON-CL6-2021-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-01 |
2022-09-01 |
2025-08-31 |
On going |
€ 001 000 000.00 |
In 2015, the ecological status of 75-90% of surface waters in NW Europe was reported to be less than good. Diffuse pollution with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from agriculture, together with point sources of N and P pollution from wastewater plants and industry, are a major cause of this failure to achieve good ecological status. Climate change is likely to exacerbate the pollution risk. Clearly, there is a huge challenge to implement effective mitigation measures to reduce nutrient loadings to air and water to meet desired environmental targets against the background of a changing climate. The synergies and tradeoffs between management actions to mitigate climate change and those to mitigate N and P pollution need to be clarified to develop effective local, regional and national policies. Governance arrangements to implement and monitor the necessary actions need to be better integrated, requiring a consistent and coherent set of environmental indicators. The overall objective of NEW-HARMONICA is to assess and co-develop a harmonised systemic approach to prioritizing an effective suite of N and P pollution mitigation measures and indicators to meet local to regional environmental targets. To achieve this objective, an experienced NEW-HARMONICA consortium (4 partners from 3 countries) with complementary expertise, skills and networks will work on 4 N and P-polluted cross-border river basins in NW Europe. All partners are involved in an established NW Europe Policy-Science Working Group (PSWG) who together with local catchment stakeholders play a central role in NEW-HARMONICA. NEW-HARMONICA’s approach is based on a combination of technical assessments, including quantification of N and P flows and load-reduction targets in the study catchments, assessments of governance arrangements, and policy support for the co-development of harmonised environmental policies, based on a strong evidence base and interactions with the PSWG and local stakeholders. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101060329 |
Rivers and estuaries' |
| projects-330 |
101114283 |
iTOP-RAS |
Development of Innovative Tools for OPtimal management of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems |
HORIZON |
HORIZON-EIE-2022-SCALEUP-02 |
HORIZON-EIE-2022-SCALEUP-02-02 |
2023-07-01 |
2024-06-30 |
Completed |
No data |
Aquaculture is the world’s fastest-growing agri-tech sector. To support that growth, the industry needs to find innovative solutions to challenges, such as sustainability, disease, lack of space for expansion, and freshwater availability. Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) have been the answer to those problems; these land-based fish farming systems are designed to control culture conditions for intensive farming, while increasing biosecurity levels, minimizing water consumption, and managing waste streams. However, their water monitoring systems lack real-time sensors to quantify the highly toxic compounds ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, which can accumulate in closed systems and cause the sudden death of a full production cycle.Nitrogen Sensing Solutions proposes a game-changing solution, using an innovative biosensing technology that is mastered by this science-driven startup. The minimum viable product is a portable nitrite biosensor - the NO2Aqua – that can be easily used onsite a deliver accurate results in real-time. Our second product (NOxAqua) can monitor the three N-nutrients at the same time, whereas our third product (NOxAquaPlus) will offer automation in a customized analyzer equipped with a complete sensors package, a data transmission system, and protocols for emergency response, thus reducing risks of heavy mortality and taking the RAS-based industry to Aquaculture 4.0.The company was founded by its CEO, a female researcher who moved recently to the entrepreneurship space and is willing to take the deep technology developed in her research group to the marketplace. However, the team lacks experience in business development and management and is looking for mentorship and coaching. In addition, we are seeking support to perform customer (re)discovery, and to update the business plan, market deployment strategy, and IP strategy. Lastly, we aim to promote awareness of the NOxAqua brand. As so, we are a good fit for the Women TechEU program. |
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101114283 |
Urban water' |
