In addition to the research on pre-processing adapted to the characteristics of every single waste, the development of post-processing to reduce the effluent’s nitrogen load without increasing costs and the optimisation of anaerobic digestion process by modifying operating parameters, this line of work is focused on the development of new digester fluid-dynamically optimised models and the development of microstructures which allow to increase the biomass density in a complete mix reactor.

This will allow to develop new compact digesters with short retention time which will enable the biogas plant industrialisation, minimising installation and operation costs and ensuring an optimal production of biogas.

This line consists in the study and development of new gas cleaning and purification systems to produce biomethane which will be later used as fuel for vehicles or to its injection into the natural gas grid.

The purifying systems studied by the laboratory and- in some cases- at pilot scale are: accelerated carbonation by the use of ash rich in calcium oxide, chemical adsorption by nitrogenised compounds, catalytic biomethanation with hydrogenotrophic Archae and purification by the grow and growth of microalgae.

As far as biomass is concerned, there are many energy valuation projects which are performed by different processes of thermal conversion of biomass waste, which was not valuated until now- but with a high potential- coming from agroforestry production (kiwi and vine). With this, waste becomes another resource for economic development, contributing to the concept of circular economy. Material pre-processing is also studied as well as the use of additives to get new improved biofuels with the purpose of reducing dross and sintered production and emissions (gas and particulate materials) to the atmosphere.

The development of the internal wave energy projects with the Pelamis prototype and the participation in the Magallanes Project (Development of a 2MW power generation by using tidal power) has allow us to develop a work field focused on marine and wave energy.

These lines of work are focused on the potential tests for the implementation of different technologies of tidal and wave energy as well as the architecture of the generation system and the technical and regulatory requirements for power installation and generation, the connexion and the design of the power generation system, being these aspects crucial to get a suitable quality production to its injection into the grid.