LIFE ELEKTRA

NEW LIFE ELEKTRA project fiche

Almost one in five (around 18%) of underground water sources in the EU contain excessive nitrates, chemicals from fertilisers and farm waste that can make drinking water unsafe and harm ecosystems, affecting rivers, lakes and wildlife. LIFE ELEKTRA tackles this issue by removing nitrates through a renewable-energy-powered electrochemical process that converts them into harmless nitrogen gas, naturally present in the air. 

This innovative approach applies green electricity to the water, triggering a chemical reaction that transforms nitrate molecules into nitrogen gas. At the same time, the process generates hydrogen as a by-product, which can be used to power some parts of the system and improve energy efficiency. In some cases, the technology also treats salt-concentrated streams or brines (rejected water from desalination processes) to minimise waste. Its mobile, containerised design allows deployment in diverse locations, and the circular approach ensures the energy and resources are reused wherever possible. This combination of innovative chemistry, sustainable energy and environmental protection makes LIFE ELEKTRA a scalable solution for safer water consumption and healthier ecosystems across Europe. 

LIFE ELEKTRA’s project objectives:  

• Demonstrate at pilot scale a circular process to produce magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate using wastewater streams. 
• Demonstrate at pilot scale an electrochemical process that removes nitrates from highly polluted water streams by using electricity to convert them into harmless nitrogen gas (a natural component of the air). 
• Treat nitrate-rich brine streams (the concentrated “reject waters” produced by other purification processes) to reduce waste and increase water reuse. 
• Recover the hydrogen generated as a by-product of the electrochemical reaction and reuse it as a clean energy source to power parts of the treatment system, improving overall energy efficiency. 
• Integrate renewable energy, particularly solar power, into the treatment units to lower the carbon footprint of water purification. 
• Design, build and validate mobile, containerised pilot plants that can be deployed in real conditions in Spain and Malta, demonstrating the technology’s adaptability across different communities and environments. 
• Develop digital tools, including a future digital-twin-based management system (a virtual model used to simulate and optimise system performance), to support smarter operation and resource use. 
• Prepare business models and replication strategies that will enable the technology to be scaled up and adopted across Europe. 

Expected results:  

• Produce up to 1,460 m³ of treated water per year by recovering and purifying nitrate-polluted reject water from the Gandía plant (Spain), equivalent to around 4 m³ of clean water every day. 
• Treat smaller nitrate-polluted water streams in islands or remote locations by operating pilot units in Gran Canaria (Spain) and Malta, each designed to treat 2 m³/day for six months (around 325 m³ in total). 
• Remove 99% of the nitrates from concentrated water streams, converting an estimated 500 kg of nitrates into harmless nitrogen gas. 
• Generate around 24,000 kWh of clean energy per year using a combination of hydrogen (a by-product of the process) and solar power, covering nearly 30% of the system’s energy needs. 
• Reduce carbon emissions by more than 3,300 kg of CO₂ per year, thanks to renewable-energy integration and decreased discharge of polluted water. 

• Demonstrate that container-based treatment units can operate effectively in diverse environments, supporting water security for both mainland and island communities. 

   

Quote from the Coordinating Beneficiary:

Miguel Capilla Lloris, Project Manager

As technical developers, we usually focus on deep, technical explanations. The Close-to-Market support, especially the communication and dissemination training, helped me completely change my perspective. It taught me how to explain our technology clearly to people who are not technical, which is essential if we want to bring ELEKTRA to the market.”