PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Vast amounts of rice straw are burned annually in the rice fields near Albufera Natural Park (Spain), emitting greenhouse gases and particulate matter. This affects the quality of life of surrounding populations and has an important negative environmental impact. In Albufera, around 75 000 – 90 000 tonnes of straw are produced annually. The management of this bio-waste is expensive for farmers when techniques other than burning or burying are used. This situation is also common in other European regions producing crops with a high lignocellulosic content, like rice and wheat.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE REPTES project aims to demonstrate a new circular model, applicable to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), that will integrate the production of biohydrogen from pre-treated lignocellulosic crop by-products and WWTP sludge by means of an innovative dark fermentation process. The fermented liquid stream will be used for biogas production through its use as an anaerobic digestion co-substrate. With this aim, the project beneficiaries will design, construct and implement a demonstration plant at Pinedo WWTP in the Valencia region. Here, they will demonstrate a new solution to the problem of removing and disposing of rice straw from fields, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the environment and particulate matter air pollution. Furthermore, the project will provide local authorities with new tools for reaching a climate neutral economy by increasing the generation and use of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.
The project will therefore contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal, the Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001) and the Waste Framework Directive (2018/851).
RESULTS
Expected results:
The main expected outcomes are a new solution to the problem of the removal and disposal of rice straw from fields and the reduction of associated greenhouse gas emissions. More specifically, the project team aims to reduce inappropriately managed waste by 108 tons/year, increase primary renewable energy production by 0.3 GWh/year, reduce greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 eq) by 195 tons/year, and improve air quality and the welfare of citizens living in areas surrounding extensive lignocellulosic crop cultivation, during the project’s duration.
