E5DES, an European research project developed in the geographical area of the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde, Mauritania and Senegal, has the objective of increasing and strengthening the R&D&i of excellence in desalination that has been developing from the Joint DESAL+ Living Lab platform. The project includes the development of actions to continuously improve technological and scientific capacities in desalination of research centers, entrepreneurs and technology-based SMEs (startups), and the development of innovative solutions in 6 lines of research and priority strategies for the Macaronesia regions:
- Renewable energy and circular economy in desalination
- Desalinated water quality
- Pre-treatments and brine discharges
- Smart desalination
- Emerging technologies in desalination
- Energy efficiency
Developing these 6 strategic R&D&i lines in desalination, the aim is to increase visibility, international recognition and make the participating regions a node of knowledge and innovation production, betting on being an ideal geographic space for testing, verification and technologic innovation.
Canary Islands Institute of Technology, public R&D center attached to the regional Ministry of Universities, Science & Innovation and Culture of the Canary Islands Government, is the main beneficiary of the project, which has a consortium made up of 10 research centers in the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde, Mauritania and Senegal.
Under the title "Research and innovation towards excellence in technological efficiency, use of renewable energy, emerging technologies and circular economy in desalination", E5DES seeks to generate innovative solutions for the improvement of the quality of desalinated water and brine discharges, the control intelligent desalination plants and intrinsic use of renewable energy.
The project (with code MAC2/1.1a/309) is co-financed by the Interreg MAC 2014-2020 Cooperation Program, within axis 1 with the priority objective of "Promoting research, technological development and innovation".
E5DES proposes actions aimed at:
- Increase the scientific contribution in the application of innovative solutions for desalination efficiency and direct use of renewable energy, in line with the priorities of the Blue Economy.
- Apply new processes and / or solutions to promote the sustainability and valorization of resources, in line with the priorities of the Circular Economy.
- Increase the international recognition of the R&D&i services brand of the DESAL+ LIVING LAB Platform and increase collaborations with other research centers and companies and attract new projects.
- Increase scientific and technological knowledge regarding water desalination and the water-energy nexus.
Project aligned with the goals to be achieved by 2030 included in the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):