CETENMA | Technology Center for Energy and Environment

CETENMA is a research center (private non-profit) working in the fields of waste&water, energy and soil health management. With high expertise in coordination of H2020 & HE projects and participation in LIFE, Interreg Sudoe, national and regional projects. Associated member of Greenovate Europe, Biobased  Industries Consortium, Biorefine Cluster, CCRI, European Bioeconomy Bureau and Bioplat.
📌Our main research lines are📌:

1. WASTE & WATER ♻💧:

   • Biorrefinery approach. CETENMA counts with a fully equipped biorefinery lab to address biomass physical pre-treatments, fermentations and final downstream steps. Some R&D current lines are: Integral valorisation of lignocellulosic biomass to obtain building blocks (e.g lactic acid), production of succinic acid from agri-food wastes (e.g whey), or lysine from lignocellulosic residues (e.g cotton textiles).

   • Bioenergy from biomass by anaerobic digestion.

   • Wastewater and sludge treatments: Emerging pollutants - antibiotics resistant bacteria&genes removal; Nutrient's recovery from sludge; Water reuse - use of membrane and advance oxidation processes.

   • Life Cycle Assesment (LCAs) – Environemntal, social and cost analysis. Carbon and water footprint calculations.

2. ENERGY💡:

   • Green Hydrogen: working on the whole value chain (H2 production, storage and use)

   • Renewable gases: Biological routes for biomethane production (trickle reactor, microalgae photobioreactors, membrane separation).

   • Circular and Digital Energy: Thermal storage with phase change materials. GIS systems and sensors.

   • Sustainable Cities: Development of sustainability plans for municipalities (e.g Circular Economy strategy, climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, Covenant of mayors, ...).

3. CIRCULAR SYSTEMS🔄🌱:

   • Territorial studies - urban metabolism, circular economy strategy, waste feasibility studies and co-creation.

   • EU taxonomy studies for funding & investments.

   • Development of IP (patentability) assessments and identification of best available techniques.​

   • Technical assistance to unlock investment in bioeconomy projects.

   • Circular food systems: development of state-of-the-art studies & optimisation studies to meet regulatory requirements (e.g fertiliser regulation); Analysis for improving soil health and reducing the use of inputs.

   • Living Labs management

CETENMA is equipped with advanced laboratory facilities in Solar Energy, Calibration, Engine Testing, Water Treatment, Bioenergy, and Biorrefinery, supporting cutting-edge research and innovation with the support of 33 top professionals, including 10 PhDs, driving and coordinating R&D projects in wastewater treatment (Biosolids2Energy, MONITOCOES, NPOWER), waste valorization (VALUEWASTE, Ferplay, FERTITEC), renewable energy (GHENESIS, HIDRÓGENO VERDE), and biodiversity (Bosque Romano, SPARTARIA). Our expertise spans innovation through lab and pilot-scale projects, including waste biorefinery, wastewater treatment, and renewable energy solutions. We conduct sustainability assessments, covering environmental, social, and cost Life Cycle Analyses (LCA), and support exploitation activities, such as market studies, business plans, and techno-economic viability.

Additionally, we develop strategic roadmaps, stakeholder engagement strategies, and dissemination plans, ensuring that innovation translates into real-world impact.