We are- Nº8

I N N O V A T I O N 35 I N N O V A T I O N ter treatment plant of the Campus de Móstoles of the URJC. The results obtained were promi- sing, so Aqualia continued to invest in the development of this technolo- gy, in collaboration with the GIQA, to maximise the use of wastewater as a resource and promote a more sustai- nable use of water resources. Aqualia commissioned in Toledo the world’s first pilot wastewater treat- ment plant based on 100% anaero- bic technology that uses sunlight as the only source of energy. The Estiviel wastewater treatment plant in Toledo already has a new wastewater treatment system, pio- neer in the world, which uses sunli- ght as the only source of energy. A revolution made possible by the te- chnology of purple bacteria. This pilot plant, which can now treat up to 80 cubic metres per day (equi- valent to some 350 inhabitants), pro- duces only half the waste from con- ventional purification and will also make it possible to take advantage of all the by-products generated in purification: biogas to produce ener- gy and solids for the formulation of biofertilizers. The purple bacteria system encou- rages the growth of anaerobic bac- teria capable of purifying wastewater without external electricity supply. Among the achievements reached, the notable production of electricity from biogas stands out, mainly be- cause the biomass obtained is easi- ly digestible - and instead of a con- sumption of 0.5 kwh/m3 for aeration in conventional treatment plants, a net production of 0.2 kwh/m3 is ob- tained. In this way, it also avoids the emission of 0.5 kg CO2/m3 of green- house gases. Aqualia has decided to advance in the development of this innovative process after two years of intense work, during which the viability of the technology on a pilot scale was tested at the WWTP of the URJC campus in Móstoles. Now, the co- llaboration between the Department of Innovation and Technology and Zone I, and the decisive support of the local administration, will allow the benefits of the ADVANSIST purple bacteria technology to be contrasted in the first demonstration treatment plant based on 100% solar anaerobic technology. Demonstration treatment plant at the Estiviel treatment plant (Toledo). Víctor Monsalvo, in charge of the Eco-efficiency Area at Aqualia, explains to the councillor for Environmental Public Services, Noelia de la Cruz, the operation of the project before the head of the Toledo Management Unit, Jesús Martínez. About the Incover project The new technology, using purple bacteria, involves an innovative con- cept of water purification that will re- duce a high percentage of the costs of conventional systems. In addition, it takes advantage of all the by-pro- ducts derived from purification: bio- gas to generate energy and solids for producing biofertilizers. Wastewater treatment is the ideal platform for technological development focused on switching to the circular economy production model