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The first energy and cost-efficient disruptive ZLD Technology for dredged material management, allowing circular economy and zero pollution

Project description

Innovative energy-efficient dredging technology

Dredging removes undesirable substances from the depths of rivers, lakes, and harbours. Globally, up to 40 % of sediments dredged each year are highly contaminated and necessitate treatment before their disposal in landfills. In this context, the EU-funded ASEC project will create a pilot plant with a capacity of 10 cubic metres per day, dedicated to the separation and optimisation of both water and solids derived from dredged materials. The primary innovation is an energy-efficient zero liquid discharge (ZLD+) technology that can separate 100 % of dredged materials into two valuable components: fresh water and crystallised solids. Remarkably, this breakthrough is achieved in a singular step, entirely devoid of the utilisation of chemicals.

Objective

Dredging is an essential activity to maintain maritime and river routes, coastal protection to flooding, among others. Every year, over 2 Bm3 of sediments are dredged around the world, 20-40% of which are highly polluted and must be treated before being disposed to landfill (as current treatment and separation technologies do not allow to cost-efficiently valorise the water and the solids from this dredged material).
Water Challenge has developed and patented the first energy-efficient truly Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD+) technology able to separate 100% of dredged material into fresh water and crystalized solids in one step, without chemicals and with very low energy consumption (<20 kWh/m3).
The aim of this project is to develop a pilot plant of 10 m3/day of capacity to separate and valorise the water and solids from dredged materials. This plant will be pivotal to showcase the technology and business model, before scaling it and replicating it around Europe.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-EIC-ACC-BF - HORIZON EIC Accelerator Blended Finance

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2022-ACCELERATOR-01

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Coordinator

WATER CHALLENGE SL
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 458 928,00
Address
AVDA DEL PAPA NEGRO 63
28043 Madrid
Spain

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 3 512 755,00
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