Energy transition for Europe - Tools and Tips by LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 

In the frame of #EUSEW2023, the LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 project aims to hold a side event in order to bring together experts and successful projects. This session has also the aim of showcasing successful stories of energy, digital, and sustainable project’s experience. Prioritizing, above all, the exposure of best practices regarding energy transition awareness implementation. 

Invited projects will vary in terms of their EU’s financial support. The event will include initiatives funded by the LIFE Programme, which will also create synergies with those coming from Horizon and Erasmus+.The opening will be held by Finnova’s CEO, Juan Manuel Revuelta, who will be giving a welcoming speech and a lecture on how EU funding can support and address Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), tackle climate change or even how to provide funding for energy transition initiatives aligned with European Green Deal objectives. Thus, launching the discussion, which will continue throughout the webinar, on how each of the projects address this issue. Next, LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 will be showcased by Carlos Lafita, Project and R&D Engineer at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Global Omnium (project’s leader). This sequence will be followed by other invited LIFE Programme projects like: LIFE BIOGASNET, LIFE INFUSION, LIFE 3E.  

This event will also be joined, as mentioned above, by projects from other programmes, such as Res4City (HORIZON), which applies highly qualified human capital for the ecological transition in cities. This will be presented by Emmanuel Kypraios, leader and representative of RES4CITY. As this first part closure, Moisés Álvaro, Ecosystem Developer for Southern Europe at Climate-KIC, will be invited to present the work carried out by EIT Climate KIC along with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology to decrease C02 emissions by 2030.  

A roundtable will be displayed after each projects’ brief presentation, the discussion will be focused on how each of the projects contributes to the European Commission’s “RePowerEU” Plan. As it seeks to diversify gas supplies, accelerate the use of renewable energies and replace gas in heating and power generation. 

Last but not least, the event will be the perfect scheme for launching the jury of the LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 Startup Europe Awards, composed of Carolina Lechado, Project Manager at Finnova, Carlos Lafita, Project and R&D Engineer at Global Omnium, and Adrián Noheda, EU Project Manager at Finnova. These awards will be held on September 20 and 21 at FYCMA (Málaga). 

Please find detailed information on projects and initiatives that will participate in this side event:

About StartUp Europe Awards: StartUp Europe Awards is an initiative of the European Commission in collaboration with StartUp Europe and implemented by the Finnova Foundation, which uses the open innovation methodology of public-private partnership. It is a tool that allows companies to identify talented startups capable of solving current challenges in multiple areas. 

About Finnova: Finnova is a Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels and Spain, working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship in the EU. Finnova’s experience in leading communication and dissemination activities of European projects is combined with a solid proven track record in business creation and entrepreneurial support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and events, as well as its commitment to training and employability of young people. 

About LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0: The main objective of LIFE-ECODIGESTION 2.0 is the scaling up of the technology to produce biogas on demand with WWTP sludge, using agri-food waste and slurry as cosubstrate. The technology is based on the one developed in the previous LIFE ECODIGESTION LIFE13 ENV / ES / 377 project, whose main objective was the development, implementation and demonstration on a pilot scale of an innovative technology for automatic control of the dosage of waste in WWTP anaerobic digesters. and, consequently, maximize biogas production and waste treatment capacity. 

About Res4City: a HORIZON Europe project with 36 months duration, that aims to enhance the development of sustainable renewables and fuel technologies in cities by co-designing an innovative educational programme with stakeholders and promoting sustainability and circularity, filling the knowledge and skills gaps for a successful energy transition. Lead by Maynooth University’s School of Business in a consortium of 14 entities.  

About LIFE BIOGASNET: The main objective of the project is to demonstrate a new cost-effective and environmentally friendly technology for biogas desulphurisation, based on biological processes, capable of obtaining high quality biogas and valuable final by-products. 

LIFE 3E aims to develop and demonstrate an innovative wastewater regeneration process at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) of Comillas (Cantabria), capable of generating renewable energy in situ, taking advantage of the energy contained in the saline gradient (EGS) by Means of Reverse Electrodialysis (EDR). 

About LIFE INFUSION: The project aims to recover energy, nutrients and water from landfill leachate and liquid digestate from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and to reduce its environmental impact on MSW treatment facilities.