ENEA LEA

The ENEA Laboratory for the Environment – LEA (ENEA – National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) – belongs to the Emilia-Romagna Region high-tech network.

LEA is part of ENEA Department of Sustainability of Production and Territorial Systems (SSPT) and develops technologies, processes, methodologies and tools for wastewater treatment and for the analysis and the evaluation of environmental matrices (water, soil, air). In particular, the laboratory studies and develops civil and industrial wastewater treatment systems with the purpose to optimize energy consumption, promote an efficient use of water resources and valorize effluents and organic substrates, collaborating with municipal companies and other actors belonging to the integrated water cycle, treatment technology companies, wastewater companies and institutional entities. In addition, LEA carries out environmental assessments (CF carbon footprint, LCA life cycle analysis, eco-design) and develops methods and tools to support the eco-innovation of production and territorial systems, contributing to the definition of circular economy policies and strategies. It also promotes industrial symbiosis strategies, promoting the meeting between supply and demand for resources/services, with a primary role in the National Industrial Symbiosis Platform.

ROLE IN THE PROJECT:

LEA is the technical-scientific and administrative coordinator of the project and is the leader of WP1 and WP5. Moreover, LEA is involved in the activities provided in WP2 and WP4.

In WP1, the laboratory will develop, in collaboration with CIRI FRAME and HERA, a smart prototypal system for on-line monitoring and treated wastewater quality control, in order to optimize its final reuse. The activities have been carried out in synergy with WP2 and in co-operation with CIRI FRAME laboratory and IRRITEC.

In WP4, LEA co-operates with Proambiente CNR and the activities are focussed on the identification of sampling procedures and analytic techniques for the quantification of some emerging contaminants and microplastics in different wastewater treatment plant sections.

For WP5, LEA is responsible for the implementation and development of an Industrial Symbiosis Platform which will be able to promote paths for the valorisation of matter and energy flows related to the supply chain of wastewater treatment plants within municipal and productive sectors.