MSCA Doctoral Network NEUTEN:
High-level training in the development of innovative techniques to realize net energy-neutral wastewater treatment systems
Energy Neutrality in Wastewater Treatment
NEUTEN project provides high-level training in the development of innovative techniques to realize net energy-neutral wastewater treatment systems to a new generation of high-achieving doctoral candidates (DC) and equipping them with the transferable and scientific skills which are required for thriving careers in the growing area of green and sustainable energy carrier generation and use.
This international training programme aims to develop a range of innovative strategies in various interdisciplinary fields such as materials science, (micro-)biology, (bio-)chemical and environmental engineering, artificial intelligence and machine learning, sustainability and life cycle cost assessment. To achieve the goals of NEUTEN, a combination of innovative doctoral research projects is designed and supported by skills-enriching intersectoral secondments, international mobility and unique interdisciplinary courses.
The challenge
We stand at a critical juncture in the face of a global water crisis, as it’s predicted that by 2030 the world’s demand for water will exceed the available supply by 40%, and an estimated 2.8 billion people will live in areas with water scarcity. While water treatment systems hold promise as a solution, their energy-intensive nature poses a significant challenge. This is even more worrying given that, as populations expand and urbanize, so does the volume of wastewater generated, thus exacerbating the strain on energy resources and amplifying the environmental footprint of these treatment plants. Recognizing the urgency of mitigating these challenges, the European Union is a frontrunner in the pursuit of environmental sustainability for wastewater treatment systems to guarantee affordable and easy access to water.
A pivotal moment occurred in 2022, when the EC established new rules under the revision of the urban wastewater treatment directive (91/271/EEC) that force urban wastewater treatment plants to significantly reduce their energy consumption and produce energy through renewable sources (e.g., solar, wind and in particular biogas production). This decisive step by the EC reflects a commitment to not only address the pressing issues of water scarcity but also to foster a paradigm shift towards energy-neutral and environmentally responsible wastewater treatment practices.
Current limitations
But despite concerted efforts, the current evidence demonstrates a slow progress in the implemented strategies to improve the freshwater quality across the EU and is expected to follow the same trend in the coming years. And although advancements in wastewater treatment technologies are notable, they either demand substantial energy input, as in electrochemical oxidation/reduction processes, or may not effectively eliminate specific pollutants, particularly when addressing high-priority contaminants, as is the case of biological treatment technologies such as anaerobic digestion or activated sludge processes. To fulfil these strategies, the current wastewater treatment technologies must undergo a significant enhancement in energy carrier generation and removal efficiency, especially for the key priority pollutants, coupled with substantial reductions in both operational costs and associated environmental impacts.
Solutions
The focus of NEUTEN will be laid on achieving energy neutrality (EN) in wastewater treatment systems, to ensure balancing or even surpassing the energy consumed during the treatment process with energy generation or recovery within the system. In this context, energy-efficient and sustainable chemical pathways will in first instance be developed for the optimum generation of (i) renewable energy and (ii) energy-dense products (i.e., hydrochar) from wastewater. Secondly, the effectiveness of biogas production technologies will be optimized regarding the bioenergy carrier generation and removal of key priority pollutants through (i) the development of functionalized support systems for superior growth and activity and (ii) the augmentation of the microbial communities involved. Thirdly, energetically self-sustained strategies will be developed and optimized through the combination of various wastewater treatment technologies.
The project
To catalyze innovation and ensure the integration of our solution into industrial applications, the availability of highly trained interdisciplinary experts is imperative. NEUTEN aims then to establish the first EU doctoral network, comprising 15 creative and entrepreneurially-minded DCs, highly skilled to push the boundaries of sustainable and efficient wastewater treatment systems. Our project will feature a 4-year international and intersectoral research training program to develop highly novel applications for energy-neutral wastewater treatment systems. Research towards this technology development will benefit from an interdisciplinary approach and will go hand in hand with innovations in process control and optimization using state-of-the-art techniques such as artificial intelligence (AI), cost-benefit analysis and systematic market behaviour and uptake analysis.
Long-term impact
In the long-term, NEUTEN will allow compliance with the established wastewater treatment directives (i.e., 2000/60/EC, and 91/271/EEC) to provide clean, affordable and easy access to water resources. NEUTEN will also contribute significantly to decreasing the health impacts caused by the presence of key priority pollutants in water bodies, and also create pathways for the decarbonization of wastewater treatment processes by promoting the generation of renewable energy carriers. Such a strategy can also satisfy the established renewable energy targets according to the Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001/EU) as part of the “Clean energy for all Europeans” package which has established a new binding renewable energy target for the EU for 2030 of at least 32%, and, helping at meeting the EU emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Scientific goal
Through the implementation of the NEUTEN doctoral network, the main scientific goal is to realise the development of advanced technologies achieving efficient wastewater purification without the need for an additional energy source or even achieve a net energy gain. To reach this goal, the following specific research objectives (RO) below have been defined, linked to the respective work packages (WP) and DC’s individual research projects.