ULTIMATE – Industry water-utility symbiosis for a smarter water society (H2020)  

General concept

The project brings together 9 Water Smart Industrial Symbiosis (WSIS) cases (8 in the EU and 1 in IL) where it develops, tests and demonstrates multi-layered water-energy-materials reuse approaches, complying with strict health and safety requirements while showcasing novel governance arrangements and business models. All cases build on direct industrial interest and investment, with ULTIMATE providing added-value through additional expertise, novel technological ideas, software (process models and control optimisation analytics, whole system models, IS matchmaking algorithms and digital marketplaces), hardware (e.g. advanced treatment technologies, sensors), as well as business intelligence and market analysis. We facilitate the design, deployment, monitoring and control of these symbiotic systems and co-develop with the main stakeholders (from the industry and water service provision sides of the symbiosis) the business models required to make them profitable – ensuring wide transferability and uptake. The project also leverages years of experience and millions in investment in industrial symbiosis, by learning from additional mature high-profile cases (incl. cases in the UK and China). All demonstrations place emphasis on the valorisation of resources, addressing key challenges in scale of production, quality and costs. 

The role of UNIVPM in ULTIMATE

As the Innovation Manager in ULTIMATE, UNIVPM brings new approaches and best practices for closing materials cycles within symbiosis cluster and increased yield of provision of fit-for-purpose water quality in Rosignano (Tuscany, Italy) in collaboration with ARETUSA. A real-time data driven monitoring and process control system for seawater intrusion and infiltration in the sub-catchment and sewers sub-system will be established to overcome salinity peaks in the influent to the WWRP. Therefore, flow splitting and equalization of the secondary WWTP effluents will be tested to achieve the contracted water quality. The ICT tool will integrate real-time flow data from the two WWTPs and the upstream sewer system as well as online conductivity data at the WWTP outlets and at strategic points of the sewer systems. An early warning system for the intrusion of seawater and salinity management will be developed, using a model-based approach with hydrometeorological forecasts (wind speed + direction, rainfall) combined with hydrogeological data (groundwater level) to predict saltwater intrusions and impacts from sea spray. To allow for water reuse during periods of very high salinity, the potential for others water uses outside of SOLVAY will be screened regarding the highest admissible chloride content. These potential uses will be integrated in a data-driven matchmaking platform for water reuse to manage the industrial and agricultural demand and supply of water from various sources (water reuse, wells, surface water). This platform incorporates a fit-for-purpose water quality approach based on online parameters (e.g. salinity, turbidity, COD) and will improve the local management of water sources. 

Expected impacts

ULTIMATE demonstrates innovative solutions for symbiosis between industry and water service providers, contributing to the challenges of water scarcity, raw materials depletion and climate change. Efficient use and recovery of resource and energy, together with water reuse, are main pillars of ULTIMATE. In ULTIMATE, energy recovery reducing almost 15% of process energy demands will be demonstrated. ULTIMATE proposes reuse and recovery schemes to drastically reduce demands for freshwater of European industries, while providing CE business opportunities for new products. Solutions will allow preparing both Industries and Utilities for the CC challenges (e.g. water scarcity), while also reducing CO₂ emissions through energy demand reductions. Considering the project lifetime plus three years, the ULTIMATE partners have an anticipated investment planning focussing circular economy and symbiosis activities of in total 270 M€. Furthermore, ULTIMATE will propose new business models and services based on the cases, improve on current practices by facilitating knowledge-co-creation and when applicable, propose new business models, partnership and services around circular symbiotic opportunities between industries and water service providers with active participation of SMEs.