Spanish-Italian project harnessing hydropower from urban water systems shortlisted for 2025 European Sustainable Energy Awards

Cities could use existing urban infrastructure to recover energy without environmental impact or compromising water quality. LIFE TURBINES, a Spanish-Italian project funded by the EU, generates electricity by harnessing excess pressure in domestic water supplies. This technology promotes the development of smart cities and the decarbonisation of urban water systems. 

Drinking water supply represents 7% of global energy consumption, a figure that can reach 30-40% in smaller municipalities, representing a significant source of emissions. 

'One of the main challenges in the operation of water distribution networks is the regulation of pressure to ensure a continuous supply,' 

explains Project Manager María Pedro-Monzonís, adding that when demand falls, excess pressure can build up.

'The idea of harnessing this surplus [pressure] arises from the principles of potential energy, similar to those applied in hydroelectric power plants,' she says. 

LIFE TURBINES aims to convert that pressure into electricity by using turbines integrated directly into existing urban infrastructures. 

Through 13 pilot cases implemented in Spain and Italy, LIFE TURBINES aims to demonstrate that it is possible to harness hydropower from urban water, without compromising its normal operation and service to citizens, but rather improving it. The project says it will generate almost a million kWh per year of renewable energy through its microturbines at the test sites, which will avoid the emission of 257.81 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

One of the key strategies has been the selection of case studies with diverse hydraulic characteristics, with different pressure drops, flow rates and energy uses, enabling the project to validate the flexibility and adaptability of the solution in different urban contexts.

'This variety, combined with the digital tool being developed for selecting, sizing equipment and defining the mode of operation, optimises the management of the equipment, providing the project with a great capacity for adaptation to different urban contexts,' Pedro-Monzonís explains.

In Italy, the case study is located in a rural area of Tuscany, in Scansano, where the energy generated will support the creation of an energy community supplying farms, wineries, agro-tourism businesses, and other rural establishments.

In Spain, it will be used to provide services to the public, such as drinking water fountains (refrigerated and filtered) and charging points for electric vehicles, and its use will be prioritised for self-consumption of energy from the grid, contributing to the decarbonisation of the drinking water supply. 

The project manager explains that following the completion of the pilot projects, the next steps will focus on scaling up and replicating the LIFE TURBINES solution:

'Demonstration sites with different flow rates, pressure conditions, turbine types and energy uses have been designed to represent a wide variety of scenarios, reinforcing the applicability and replicability of the solution.'

In the same vein, the developed digital tool will act as a key decision support, facilitating water utilities and local authorities to identify optimal locations and configurations according to the specific characteristics of their networks, and thus favouring a wider and more adapted deployment of the technology.

'We are also exploring the possibility of extending this solution to other areas of the water cycle, such as irrigation networks where it is also necessary to regulate pressure and where there are opportunities to make energy efficient use of the resource,' says Pedro-Monzonís, adding: 'Furthermore, integrating these systems with energy storage solutions  maximises the use of the energy generated, facilitating its deferred use and its integration in self-consumption and local energy management models.'

EUSEW Awards ​celebrate Europe’s best clean energy projects and leaders 

LIFE TURBINES is one of three finalists shortlisted for the European Sustainable Energy Awards 2025 in the Innovation category. The award recognises outstanding ongoing or recently completed EU-funded projects that show an original and innovative path towards the clean energy transition. The other finalists in this category are the AQUABATTERY project in the Netherlands and the LIFE4GREENBROADBAND project in Croatia.

AQUABATTERY is driving innovation to commercialise a groundbreaking energy storage solution based on saltwater. LIFE4GREENBROADBAND is cutting emissions in the telecoms sector by rolling out cooling and solar power solutions at base stations.

The European Sustainable Energy Awards ​(EUSEW Awards) recognise outstanding individuals and projects for their innovation and efforts in energy efficiency and renewables. The nine finalists have been selected by a high-level jury in three categories: Innovation, Local Energy Action, and Woman in Energy. The finalists will be submitted to an online public vote, which is open until 1 June, and the winners will be announced during the EUSEW Awards Ceremony on 10 June 2025. ​ 

EUSEW 2025 

European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), the​ biggest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe, takes place on 10-12 June under the theme of ‘Powering a fair and competitive green transition’. The event will bring together public authorities, industry, NGOs and consumers to promote initiatives accelerating decarbonisation through clean technologies and solutions towards a competitive, fair and just transition both for people and businesses.

Registrations for onsite attendance in Brussels and online participation are  now open.  

For interview requests with the EUSEW Awards finalists or additional media information, please contact ​ mediaeusew [dot] eu