Page 64 - 2016 CSR Report

STRATEGIC LINES FOR R&D

SUSTAINABILITY ECO-EFFICIENCY QUALITY INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT
Reduction of energy Use of electricity from Standard indicators for Management
consumption and renewable sources, drinking water, water systems, optimising
emissions, use of waste innovation to create re-use, desalination of water resources
water and wastes as new ecological fuels. and analysis. and information
resources and alterna- and communication
tive technologies. technologies.

During 2016 and in line with the strategic planning The new line consists of the ECO Innovation
of R&D activities relating to water management, Cleanwater and RETOS Renovagas projects under
Aqualia developed a new working area around development (which will conclude in 2017 after
eco-efficiency, added to the existing ones on an extension of six months to consolidate their
sustainability, quality and intelligent management. results), the CIEN SmartGreenGas project (2018)
and two new projects started during the year in
the framework of the European competitions for
developing new bio electro-chemical processes, the
H2020 Mides and LIFE Answer projects.

LIFE ANSWER team. RETOS Renovagas team.

H2020 Mides

Location: Phase 1: Denia (Alicante); Led by Aqualia, the H2020 Mides project seeks to revolutionise
Planned phase 2: Tunisia, Chile. desalination technology and reduce its energy cost by five times
Duration: 01/04/16 – 31/03/2020 compared to the traditional reverse osmosis technology.
Total budget: €7,949,754.29 This is undertaken with microbial desalination cells (MDC)2 using
Aqualia: €1,691,206.79 residual organic matter (from effluents) to activate the bacteria
Participants: Aqualia (Coordinator), that displace salts through the membranes without the need for an
Fujifilm, Imdea, SGL Carbon, external energy supply.
Leitat, Mikrolin Hungary, Oncontrol
Technologies, Simtech Simulation The Mides project involves an international consortium consisting
Technology, Rood Wit Blauw Water of 12 companies and organisations from eight countries – Austria,
Services, Unesco-Ihe, University of Chile, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and
Gabès, University of Chile. Tunisia – with a wide combined experience in water management
and technological innovation.

64 2016 REPORT