Context and Objectives
The NEUTEN (Energy Neutrality in Wastewater Treatment) project emerges at a critical time in response to the growing global water scarcity and the high energy demands of current wastewater treatment systems. By 2030, global water demand is projected to exceed supply by 40%, affecting nearly 2.8 billion people.
In this scenario, the challenge is not only to improve water treatment processes but to do so sustainably, aiming for energy neutrality—where the energy produced equals or surpasses the energy consumed during treatment. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network under the Horizon Europe programme, NEUTEN’s mission is to train a new generation of 15 doctoral candidates in the development of breakthrough technologies that make this energy-neutral vision a reality.
The project brings together 18 partners from 10 countries, both academic and industrial, in a highly interdisciplinary network that spans chemical engineering, microbiology, environmental biotechnology, materials science, artificial intelligence, and life cycle assessment.
Expected Results
NEUTEN aims to deliver tangible technological innovations capable of transforming traditional wastewater treatment plants into energy self-sufficient systems.
Key expected outcomes include the development of novel catalytic pathways for bioenergy production (e.g., biogas and hydrogen), the design of optimized reactor configurations, and the implementation of self-sustaining treatment systems such as microbial fuel cell-integrated constructed wetlands.
The project also seeks to significantly reduce overall energy consumption, boost renewable energy output, and enhance the removal of high-priority pollutants like pharmaceuticals and pesticides. All technologies will be evaluated not only for their technical performance but also for economic feasibility and environmental impact, ensuring they are scalable and market-ready.
Within this ambitious and multi-faceted framework, Artelnics plays a vital role as the project’s specialist in artificial intelligence (AI) for process optimization.
Artelnics is responsible for developing advanced software and machine learning algorithms tailored to model, simulate, and optimize the complex dynamics of energy-neutral wastewater treatment systems.
These tools will enable real-time system adjustments, predictive maintenance, and overall process efficiency enhancement. Moreover, Artelnics will train PhD candidates in the application of AI in environmental engineering and participate in research secondments, ensuring the seamless integration of data-driven approaches into experimental and operational settings.
Their involvement guarantees that NEUTEN’s scientific innovations are supported by smart, adaptable, and implementable digital tools that bridge the gap between research and real-world application.
