CISWEFE-NEX

CisWEFE-NEX Demonstrator

CisWEFE-NEX will develop an innovative Circular Systemic Solution (CSS) in regions facing severe water stress. The solution will integrate several subsystems that work together to produce food, purified water, and renewable energy in a sustainable, circular manner. These subsystems will use locally available resources such as solar energy, brackish water, and agricultural waste, ensuring environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

The CisWEFE-NEX system includes the following 5 key subsystems:

Desalination

This subsystem validates a novel desalination technology that is robust, environmentally friendly, particularly suitable for renewable energy use without requiring  any pre-treatment, providing high-quality  water. The brine produced will be free of added chemicals and repurposed for the innovative recovery of table salt (halite) and magnesium salts (Epsomite).

Agri-voltaics

The agri-photovoltaics system combines renewable energy production with organic permaculture  farming. It  considerably improves water use by providing shading that reduces water loss through evaporation with advanced irrigation techniques, what reduces plant drought stress and increasing food production, particularly in water-stressed arid regions.

Biophenols Extraction

This subsystem adapts the biophenols extraction protocol for use in the nutra-pharma-cosmeceutical sectors to the olive oil sector, optimising it for future use. It uses renewable energy for water-based extraction, avoiding organic solvents and related emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), while treating olive mill wastewater for reuse as irrigation water.

Anaerobic Digestion

The previous biophenols extraction process enhances the advanced anaerobic digestion of olive mill pomace featured by this subsystem which elsewise is difficult to digest anaerobically. This innovation is combined with others like the use of ultrasonic cavitation, process monitoring and control technologies, including an optical sensor for volatile fatty acids and co-digestion of agri-food waste, improving the management of pH and the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio.

Aquaculture Unit

This subsystem demonstrates the viability of a Water-to-Fork & pharmaceutical biostream approach using decoupled saltwater shrimp and seaweed aquaponics. The system includes shrimp farming tanks, a biological reactor to produce phosphorus-rich irrigation solution from aquaculture interfacing the shrimp rearing system, and a seaweed production system. Saltwater will be recirculated within the shrimp production tank, and when nutrient levels become too high for the shrimps, the water will be sent to the seaweed production, which will purify the saltwater via nutrient uptake for growth before returning it to the river. This system is designed to ensure high productivity and a safe, predictable continuous cycle of shrimp and seaweed cultivation.

Controlled Cavitation -Pre-treatment Step

The Controlled Cavitation serves as a pre-treatment step for both the advanced anaerobic digestion and biophenols extraction subsystems. Using a novel ultrasound-based technology (a high-power ultrasound reactor as a plug-flow system), this unit reduces the energy required for the sonication of liquids and biomass suspensions, what facilitates the breakdown of materials, thus enhancing the efficiency of both anaerobic digestion and biophenol extraction, improving the overall performance of the systems. Additionally, the cavitation process aids in mobile wastewater treatment services and advanced oxidation processes, contributing to the overall efficiency of the CisWEFE-NEX system.

Artistic macro shot of oil and water bubbles on a colorful background.

A Contaminants monitoring system will consider traditional and emerging contaminants (micro-pollutants). It will establish a regular routine testing of most common water/wastewater quality parameters such as pH, conductivity, BOD5, COD, etc. using standard analytical equipment, as well as more complex off-site chemical analyses requiring specialised analytical equipment such as ICP-MS, GC-MS, HPLC, etc. Microbiological analyses will also be incorporated into the monitoring routine.

All CisWEFE-NEX subsystems and components (agri-photovoltaics, desalination, anaerobic digestion, controlled cavitation, biophenols extraction, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, and contaminants monitoring) will be integrated into one single system that functions cohesively, ensuring a seamless operation. This system will support the integration of data collected by the IoT sensors and control equipment from each subsystem and component into a web-based digital twin monitoring and control platform. The platform will allow the data to be integrated into a single, cohesive system, enabling real-time monitoring and optimization of circularity within the integrated system. Data gathered from the CisWEFE-NEX system will be managed by the platform, providing opportunities for data-driven services. This includes the application of novel artificial intelligence and machine learning methodologies to address additional challenges and optimization demands.

CisWEFE-NEX circular system with the integration of all project subsystems

explore HOW IT WORKS