through awards PAMA (Andalusian Environmental Awards)Andalusian Government values The efforts and commitment of the Andalusian society for the benefit of the environment. In this way, it rewards individuals, as well as companies, the scientific community, administrations, associations and foundations, for their decisive roles in this field. Strengthening the ‘Green Revolution’ and the fight against climate change.
The XXVII awards ceremony was held at the Córdoba Conference and Exhibition Center and was chaired by the Minister of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco Monterreal. Person responsible for presenting the award Manuel Guzmán De la RozaChairman of the Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy Commission of the Andalusian Parliament, received the award himself Lucas Díaz Gázquez, manager of Aqualia in Andalusia, Extremadura and the Canary Islands. Company Life Ulises project was awarded in the circular economy categorydeveloping in El Bobar treatment plant in Almería.
Lucas Díaz emphasized: “This award encourages us to continue supporting initiatives that promote reuse and the circular economy Applied to maximum expression, it transforms wastewater into high-value products. As Aqualia, we are committed to this route in the face of the critical water scarcity scenario and an example of this is the focused platform. wastewater regeneration for agricultural uses We created (REUSA Hub) in the city of Almería.”
In this regard, he works for the company Development of innovative technologies and responsible solutions in the integrated water cycle Promoting sustainability, both environmentally, socially and economically. That’s why the company is committed to changing the wastewater treatment paradigm. converting a waste (wastewater) into value-added productsor while significantly reducing energy consumption and promoting the circular economy.
LIFE Ulysses project
The main purpose of Life Ulysses Revolutionize traditional purification processes through a range of innovative technologies It allows the production of valuable resources such as biofuel for vehicles, agricultural biofertilizers and reusable water, from wastewater. It concerns the development of the zero-discharge treatment plant concept.
The project aims to reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint associated with treating polluted water, increasing the efficiency of a conventional wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) through the integration of different technologies in each of the main stages (water, gas and sludge). .
All these innovative technologies are low cost and Minimize the environmental impact of the El Bobar treatment plant by reducing electricity consumption and uses its carbon footprint for the benefit of protecting the environment and combating climate change.
So at Life Ulysses we have achieved from wastewater:
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100% renewable biofuel for vehicles. The project produces more than 100 tonnes of renewable fuel per year, which can power a fleet of up to 90 vehicles. This fuel has been tested in a vehicle fleet covering more than 21,000 km, with an average consumption of 4.8 kg of biomethane per 100 km traveled.
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Reduction in energy consumption in the treatment process by half
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Reclaimed water that meets the strictest state health limits for reuse using innovative solar technologies
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Quality agricultural biofertilizer from WWTP sludge
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Recovery of aquatic nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) in the form of struvite, a product that can be reused as a highly effective agricultural fertilizer
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Confirm the effectiveness of the last three products as biofertilizers through field tests on 500 m2 of ornamental grass crops.
HE LIFE Ulysses projectThe total budget of the project, which has already been completed but is still in operation at the El Bobar Wastewater Treatment Plant, was €1,902,784, 55% of which was provided by European funding through the European Commission’s LIFE Environmental assistance programme. Led and coordinated by Aqualia, the consortium consisted of four Spanish partners: Aqualia, CIESOL – UAL, CETIM and Energylab.
Aqualia is positioned as a reference brand in the sector thanks to its determined team with extensive experience.It is an organization that aims to constantly increase efficiency in production processes and optimize resources, with a clear orientation towards citizens.
All these actions and initiatives are included in Aqualia’s 2021-2023 Strategic Sustainability Plan, Aligned with the company’s strategy and 2030 Agenda. It identifies lines of action within the scope of triple sustainability (environmental, social and governance) and proposes specific initiatives aimed at maximizing Aqualia’s contribution to sustainable development, including risk mitigation. The Strategic Sustainability Plan points the way forward towards Aqualia’s purpose: to ensure the well-being and progress of the people and communities it serves through sustainable water management and to guarantee the universal right to water.
All work areas of the plan Maximizing the positive impacts and minimizing the negative impacts of Aqualia’s activities. Through a process of actively listening to its stakeholders, the company identifies the most relevant environmental, social and governance issues present in its decision-making process.