In most of the projects developed by the CETIM Technological Centre, technologies and biomaterials researched have a lower carbon footprint than the conventional ones.

 

Culleredo, January 28, 2021. Today is the World Day to reduce emissions of C0₂ (carbon dioxide), one of the best-known greenhouse gases (GHG) for its direct impact on global warming and change climate.

 

United Nations (UN) declared the event aiming to raise awareness and sensitizing people about the serious consequences that our actions cause in ecosystems, our own lives and the rest of the inhabitants of the Earth.

 

Likewise, with this date marked in red on the environmental calendar, the UN also wants to promote the application of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in several ways. Both through renewable energy sources, change to cleaner fuels, improvements in the efficiency of combustion processes or modifying consumption trends through environmental education.

 

Impact on reducing the carbon footprint
Nowadays it is more necessary than ever to act, and at CETIM Technological Centre we have been carrying out research projects in which the technologies and materials validated in our laboratories have a lower carbon footprint than the technologies and materials used today.

 

The most recent example is LiOn-HD, awarded just at the end of 2020, for the development of new electric batteries with silicon metal nanoparticles. It is estimated that the cells developed will have 20% lower C0₂ emissions, while at the same time increasing the autonomy of future electric cars by as much.

 

In the case of CIEN DICKENS project, through comprehensive research and optimization of composites from natural sources, the environmental impact caused by the use of raw materials derived from oil is reduced: reduction of emissions responsible for global warming (35%), reduction of energy use from non-renewable sources (60%), reduction of global energy demand (25%).

 

Another outstanding example of CETIM in the development of sustainable advanced materials is geopolymeric concretes. These concretes are manufactured without the use of Portland cement, which in manufacturing emits between 0.8 and 0.9kg of C02 per kilogram of cement. Specifically, we have developed different types of geopolymers in projects such as GEOSTONE I and II, or CUPA 4.0.

 

 

Finally, highlight the impact on reducing the carbon footprint of the agate treatments that we investigate. At LIFE ULISES we seek to obtain a zero carbon footprint, turning WWTPs into self-sufficient “factories” by obtaining biogas. At LIFE PHOENIX, thanks to the use of low energy consumption technologies and the reuse of sewage water in agricultural irrigation, it is expected to obtain a 50% reduction in associated C02 emissions.

 

 

You can check CETIM complete portfolio of projects here >>