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Advancing Sustainability of Process Industries through Digital and Circular Water Use Innovations

Project description

Towards sustainable use of water: A circular approach for industrial applications

Either we rethink how we use water or we threaten the availability. Even though there is overall enough water to meet the world’s growing needs, it is necessary to make changes in how water is used, managed and shared. The EU-funded AquaSPICE project will increase awareness in resource efficiency. It will also deliver compact solutions for industrial applications, including water treatment and reuse technologies, and closed-loop recycling practices. The project will also develop a cyber-physical-system controller including a system for real-time monitoring, assessment and optimisation of water use and reuse at different interconnected levels. The overall approach is based on the adaptation of technologies and practices – from a single industrial process to an entire industry.

Objective

AquaSPICE aims at materializing circular water use in the European Process Industries, fostering awareness in resource-efficiency and delivering compact solutions for industrial applications. That challenging aim necessitates (i) multiple state-of-the-art water treatment and re-use technologies, (ii) diverse closer-loop practices regarding water, energy and substances, (iii) a cyber-physical-system controller in the form of a system for real-time monitoring, assessment and optimization of water (re-)use at different interconnected levels and (iv) an effective methodological, regulatory and business framework. AquaSPICE not only offers these but claims their sufficiency, as also supported by the breadth of European process industries who are here to evaluate (i)-(iv).

AquaSPICE’s innovations emanate from the requirements of the Case Studies, involving industrial actors (Dow, BASF, Water-Link, Solvay, ARETUSA, Agricola, and TUPRAS) in 5 EU countries (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Romania) and 1 associated country (Turkey).

AquaSPICE follows a systemic approach in water management where optimal efficiency can be achieved through an adaptation of appropriate technologies and practices in different levels, from a single industrial process (unit operation), to an entire factory, to other collaborating industries (industrial symbiosis) or other sectors (e.g. domestic and/or agriculture).

AquaSPICE enables and facilitates the immediate uptake, replication and up-scaling of innovations, by providing comprehensive strategic, business and organizational plans that offer a range of well-defined and pre-packaged solutions, suitable for various cases with quite different characteristics.

Call for proposal

H2020-LOW-CARBON-CIRCULAR-INDUSTRIES-2020

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-LCCI-2020-EASME-singlestage

Coordinator

RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
Net EU contribution
€ 940 096,50
Address
TEMPLERGRABEN 55
52062 Aachen
Germany

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 940 096,50

Participants (31)