What if urban water networks could become a source of renewable energy?
Water and energy are two of the most important resources of the 21st century. In particular, cities are a framework where this water-energy nexus is becoming critical due to demographic movements, economic growth and global change pressures. LIFE NEXUS will show the potential of mini-hydropower systems to recover the untapped energy in existing European water networks.
On the other hand, the Project is creating the first European inventory of potential energy recovery locations. Technical and economic feasibility of new mini-hydraulic projects will be evaluated taking into account the regulations and characteristics of each country.
- Assessment of the feasibility of a micro-hydraulic generation system located in the Porma Drinking Water Treatment Plant (DWTP) of León (Spain), which will cover the total demand of the installation with renewable energy.
- Quantify the potential for energy recovery in European cities.
- Contribute to the targets established by the EC to become a global leader in the clean energy transition.
- Increase competitiveness and improve the sustainability and resilience of urban water provision services.
- Demonstration of a micro-hydraulic prototype (35 kW), based on the innovative integration of a Pump as Turbine (PaT) coupled with battery storage.
- Realization of the first European inventory of the small hydropower potential in urban water networks.
- Replication of the LIFE NEXUS approach in 30 Followers in Europe.
- Generation of 215 MWh/year of renewable electricity, harvested from the energy currently dissipated at the entrance of the DWTP.
- 100% Reduction of the GHG emissions from the DWTP. This will suppose 140 t de CO2 equivalent per year of operation.
- Evaluation of the feasibility of new locations taking into account the specific framework conditions of each country.
- Transfer project results to 30 Follower facilities.
Dra. Raquel López Fernández
Smart Grids projects:
The MUSE GRIDS project wants to contribute to the development of interconnected local energy network management systems to make better use of the synergies between these networks.
INTERPRETER will overcome these limitations by means of a modular grid management solution consisting of a set of 10 software applications for an optimal design, planning, operation and maintenance of the electricity grid
The TALENT project aims to increase the flexibility of the electrical system by reducing the cost associated with the integration of batteries in the electrical network.
The SocialRES project seeks to increase scientific knowledge about the non-technological aspects that prevent the adoption of social energy alternatives such as cooperatives, aggregators or crowdfunding platforms.
The objective of the Optigrid project is the research and development of concepts and services that allow greater flexibility in electricity generation and demand.