The Andalusian Government recognizes the efforts of Andalusian society toward environmental protection. The PAMA awards celebrate individuals, companies, the scientific community, administrations, associations, and foundations for decisive roles in promoting the green revolution and addressing climate change.
At the XXVII Awards ceremony, held at the Córdoba Conference and Exhibition Center, the event was chaired by the Minister of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco Monterreal. Manuel Guzmán De la Roza, chair of the Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy Commission of the Andalusian Parliament, presented the awards. The Life Ulises project by Aqualia won in the circular economy category for the El Bobar treatment plant in Almería, underscoring the firm’s commitment to sustainable water management.
Lucas Díaz emphasized that the award motivates continued support for reuse and circular economy initiatives. He highlighted turning wastewater into valuable products and noted Aqualia’s focus on water scarcity challenges with platforms like the REUSA Hub in Almería that facilitates wastewater regeneration for agricultural use.
The company pushes for the development of innovative technologies and responsible solutions across the integrated water cycle. Its mission combines environmental, social, and economic sustainability, aiming to redefine wastewater treatment by transforming waste into valuable products while cutting energy use and boosting the circular economy.
LIFE Ulysses project
The core goal of Life Ulysses is to modernize purification through a set of innovative technologies that yield valuable outputs from wastewater, including biofuel for vehicles, agricultural biofertilizers, and reusable water. The project envisions a zero-discharge treatment plant concept.
Its objective is to lower energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment by improving efficiency at each stage of a conventional plant through the integration of complementary technologies for water, gas, and sludge. These technologies are cost-effective and aim to minimize environmental impact at the El Bobar facility, lowering electricity use and leveraging the carbon savings for environmental protection and climate action.
The Life Ulisses initiative has demonstrated clear results from wastewater. It yields more than 100 tonnes of renewable vehicle fuel annually, capable of powering a fleet of around 90 vehicles. The fuel has been trialed across more than 21,000 kilometers, with average biomethane consumption around 4.8 kg per 100 km traveled.
It also reports a significant cut in energy use within the treatment process and produces reclaimed water that meets stringent health standards for reuse through innovative solar technologies. Additionally, the project creates quality agricultural biofertilizer from WWTP sludge and recovers key nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in the form of struvite, a fertilizer suitable for agricultural use. Field tests on 500 square meters of ornamental grass confirmed the effectiveness of the biofertilizers.
Funding for Life Ulisses totaled €1,902,784, with 55% provided by European support through the LIFE Programme. The project was led and coordinated by Aqualia, with four Spanish partners in the consortium: Aqualia, CIESOL – UAL, CETIM, and Energylab.
Aqualia is positioned as a leading brand in the sector thanks to a dedicated team with extensive experience. The company aims to continually improve production efficiency and resource optimization, with a strong citizen-centric orientation.
All actions and initiatives are part of Aqualia’s 2021-2023 Strategic Sustainability Plan, aligned with the company’s broader strategy and the 2030 Agenda. The plan identifies actions across environmental, social, and governance areas and outlines initiatives to maximize Aqualia’s contribution to sustainable development, including risk mitigation. It charts a path toward ensuring well-being and progress for the people and communities served through sustainable water management and the universal right to water.
Across all work areas, the plan seeks to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative ones. Through ongoing stakeholder listening, the company identifies the most critical environmental, social, and governance issues informing its decisions. This approach anchors the company’s long-term commitment to responsible water stewardship and community well-being.