Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VARIO (Emission controll system for wastewater treatment)
Período documentado: 2023-04-01 hasta 2024-03-31
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are major contributors of GHG, currently responsible for 2% of all EU emissions. This is equivalent to the entire airline industry (2,1%). Nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) make-up over 70% of these emissions. They need to be reduced to reach EU Green Deal objectives and achieve net-zero in this sector by 2040. Moreover, new EU regulation requires WWTP to start monitoring and reporting these direct emissions. Currently WWTP are lacking commercial solutions to do this. Measurement technology, generating high quality data all year around are of necessity to reduce these emissions in the treatment process, as N2O & CH4 can be avoided through correct process control. Similarly, real-time analytics are required to operate WWTP cost-effectively, reducing chemical and energy demand. VARIO provides a disruptive solution to these problems with its patented measurement technology and AI-based optimization models.
Over the past year, our project has achieved substantial progress toward revolutionizing greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring and reduction in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), aligning with EU Green Deal objectives.
Project Management Achievements:
Successfully completed deliverables on time, ensuring research and development kept pace with project timelines. Maintained rigorous budget control, keeping financial expenditures within the strategic plan. Implemented effective risk mitigation strategies, receiving a 98% score from Achilles Verify in the B1 Audit, asserting our reliability as a supplier. Developed and instituted a comprehensive Safety and Security Concept for Personnel, which included Hygiene Rules and Laboratory Best Practices.
Präparation for Market Activities:
Finalized a stakeholder analysis report on schedule, identifying key stakeholders and forming an engagement strategy. Secured 7 paying pilot customers for VARIO across diverse locations in Europe, reflecting strong market validation. Recorded 5 pre-orders for VARIO lite, demonstrating market demand ahead of launch. Completed 6 successful monitoring campaigns across Germany, showcasing the effectiveness of our technology. Established partnerships with key industry players like Schneider Electric and Xylem to scale operations across the EU.
Business Strategy and Technical Development:
Introduced a robust financial planning tool, simulating various growth scenarios to aid in strategic decision-making. Updated our business plan to incorporate VARIO lite, also adapting our business model to include recurring software services. Included emerging market trends
and EU regulations in our strategy, refining our go-to-market plan.
Technical Innovations:
Developed the multiplexing feature of the VARIO analyzer, enabling VARIO to monitor at multiple measuring spots simultaneously. Upgraded to oil-free scroll pumps for improved serviceability and integrated electric cables into the heated probe-line for a streamlined plug-and-play installation. Enhanced the automation architecture, improved system robustness, logging of error messages, and sampling routines, contributing to more reliable data acquisition.
Project Management Achievements:
Successfully completed deliverables on time, ensuring research and development kept pace with project timelines. Maintained rigorous budget control, keeping financial expenditures within the strategic plan. Implemented effective risk mitigation strategies, receiving a 98% score from Achilles Verify in the B1 Audit, asserting our reliability as a supplier. Developed and instituted a comprehensive Safety and Security Concept for Personnel, which included Hygiene Rules and Laboratory Best Practices.
Präparation for Market Activities:
Finalized a stakeholder analysis report on schedule, identifying key stakeholders and forming an engagement strategy. Secured 7 paying pilot customers for VARIO across diverse locations in Europe, reflecting strong market validation. Recorded 5 pre-orders for VARIO lite, demonstrating market demand ahead of launch. Completed 6 successful monitoring campaigns across Germany, showcasing the effectiveness of our technology. Established partnerships with key industry players like Schneider Electric and Xylem to scale operations across the EU.
Business Strategy and Technical Development:
Introduced a robust financial planning tool, simulating various growth scenarios to aid in strategic decision-making. Updated our business plan to incorporate VARIO lite, also adapting our business model to include recurring software services. Included emerging market trends
and EU regulations in our strategy, refining our go-to-market plan.
Technical Innovations:
Developed the multiplexing feature of the VARIO analyzer, enabling VARIO to monitor at multiple measuring spots simultaneously. Upgraded to oil-free scroll pumps for improved serviceability and integrated electric cables into the heated probe-line for a streamlined plug-and-play installation. Enhanced the automation architecture, improved system robustness, logging of error messages, and sampling routines, contributing to more reliable data acquisition.
Results:
Technological Advancement: Development of VARIO, a patented technology for accurate GHG measurement in WWTPs.
Operational Efficiency: Implementation of AI-driven models for process optimization, reducing chemical and energy usage.
Market Readiness: Acquisition of paying pilot customers and pre-orders for VARIO lite, confirming market demand.
Compliance and Policy Influence: Alignment with EU directives for GHG monitoring, influencing potential policy adaptation.
Key Needs for Further Uptake and Success:
Access to Markets and Finance: Partnerships with financial institutions and market access strategies to support the scaling of the technology.
Commercialisation: Strategic marketing and sales initiatives to convert pilot projects and pre-orders into sustained commercial use.
Supportive Regulatory Framework: Engagement with policy makers to ensure that regulations encourage or mandate the use of such GHG monitoring technologies.
Standardisation Framework: Development of industry standards around GHG monitoring tech to ensure consistency and compatibility across markets.
Technological Advancement: Development of VARIO, a patented technology for accurate GHG measurement in WWTPs.
Operational Efficiency: Implementation of AI-driven models for process optimization, reducing chemical and energy usage.
Market Readiness: Acquisition of paying pilot customers and pre-orders for VARIO lite, confirming market demand.
Compliance and Policy Influence: Alignment with EU directives for GHG monitoring, influencing potential policy adaptation.
Key Needs for Further Uptake and Success:
Access to Markets and Finance: Partnerships with financial institutions and market access strategies to support the scaling of the technology.
Commercialisation: Strategic marketing and sales initiatives to convert pilot projects and pre-orders into sustained commercial use.
Supportive Regulatory Framework: Engagement with policy makers to ensure that regulations encourage or mandate the use of such GHG monitoring technologies.
Standardisation Framework: Development of industry standards around GHG monitoring tech to ensure consistency and compatibility across markets.