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The NIMBI project will enable the recovery of nitrogen in the sludge line of a WWTP using bioelectrochemical technology, reducing the carbon footprint.
ACCIONA, in its search for technological solutions to increase the efficiency of Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) and guarantee the protection of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, is launching the NIMBI project.
This project is a collaborative project between ACCIONA, the entity leading the project, and LEITAT Technological Center. It is financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through Next Generation funds, within the framework of the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research. The publication is part of the NIMBI project (Code: CPP-2022-009665), funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union-NextGenerationEU/PRTR.
Its objective is to evaluate the potential of electrochemical technologies to improve the energy balance of WWTPs and contribute to the recovery of nitrogen contained in the incoming water. This project will use the energy released in the anaerobic treatment of the organic matter in the wastewater to recover nitrogen in the form of fertiliser and enrich the biogas, obtaining a fuel with a higher calorific value. In addition, CO2 and N2O emissions will be minimized, reducing the carbon footprint of the wastewater treatment plants.
The NIMBI project is therefore aligned with ambitious European policies on the protection of water bodies and ecosystems, such as: the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC), the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC), the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), currently under revision.