Context and Overall Objectives of the Project
The SolarPlas project addresses a critical global challenge: the safe and sustainable treatment of hazardous and complex wastewater streams, specifically hospital wastewater (HWW) and landfill leachate (LFL). These wastewaters are not only high in organic load but also contain persistent and emerging contaminants (ECs), including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and industrial chemicals, which conventional treatment methods fail to adequately remove. Their discharge into natural ecosystems poses serious risks to human health and biodiversity, with potential long-term environmental and socio-economic implications.
Current solutions are often energy-intensive, expensive, and reliant on chemical additives, making them unsuitable for decentralized or resource-constrained settings. There is an urgent need for innovative, low-carbon technologies that can effectively degrade a wide range of pollutants, meet regulatory standards, and align with circular economy principles and the EU’s Green Deal objectives.
SolarPlas proposes a novel solar-powered plasma system for decentralized wastewater treatment. The technology combines a dual plasma discharge (DPD) reactor with renewable energy integration to produce highly reactive species (e.g. hydroxyl radicals, ozone) capable of breaking down organic pollutants and ECs without additional chemicals. The system’s modular design and energy-neutral approach offer scalability and adaptability for both urban and off-grid applications.
Overall Objectives
Develop and validate the SolarPlas system – a solar-powered, energy-efficient DPD plasma reactor integrated with a high-voltage power supply capable of sustainable operation under variable sunlight conditions.
Optimize treatment performance for HWW and LFL under different operational modalities, focusing on removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia, nitrates, and ECs to meet stringent discharge and reuse standards (e.g. EU Directive 2013/39/EU).
Assess environmental safety and effluent quality through comprehensive chemical characterization, identification of by-products, and eco-toxicological testing to ensure compliance with national and international guidelines.
Build capacity and knowledge transfer through training activities in plasma technology, environmental monitoring, and entrepreneurship, fostering innovation and future commercialization.
Pathway to Impact
The project’s outcomes will contribute to three major societal and environmental objectives:
Public Health and Environmental Protection: By effectively removing ECs and reducing toxicity in treated effluents, SolarPlas will minimize the risk of antibiotic resistance development, endocrine disruption, and ecosystem contamination.
Climate and Energy Goals: Integration of photovoltaic power with plasma technology will reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional energy-intensive treatment systems, supporting the EU Green Deal and global climate targets.
Economic and Social Benefits: The decentralized, low-maintenance design enables adoption in low-resource regions, reducing costs for municipal and industrial stakeholders and creating opportunities for green jobs in water management sectors.
Scale and Significance:
If successfully scaled, the SolarPlas system could be deployed in hospitals, municipalities, and landfill sites worldwide. The global market for decentralized wastewater treatment is projected to exceed €20 billion by 2030, indicating significant potential for economic impact and societal benefit. Furthermore, by demonstrating compliance with EU water reuse standards, the project supports safe circular use of treated water in agriculture and industry, contributing to water security in climate-stressed regions.
Role of Social Sciences and Humanities
The project recognizes that technological solutions must be embedded within social, economic, and regulatory contexts for real-world uptake. SSH disciplines will contribute by:
Stakeholder engagement and risk perception studies to understand barriers and drivers for adoption.
Socio-economic analysis of cost-benefit and willingness to pay in different contexts.
Ethics and governance frameworks to ensure transparency, equity, and compliance with environmental justice principles.
