CEST2025

Eco-efficient and sustainable industrial water management is one of the most important focus areas for environmental protection in many countries. Innovation in water treatment can bring close loops to at almost 100% for important industrial water users and enable new multi-billion-euro markets in saved or recovered and reused resources. The delivering of compact solutions for industrial applications necessitates (i) multiple state-of-the-art (SotA) water treatment and re-use technologies, (ii) diverse closer-loop practices regarding water, energy and substances, (iii) a cyber-physical-system controller in the form of a system for real-time monitoring, assessment and optimization of water (re-) use at different interconnected levels and (iv) an effective methodological, regulatory and business framework. Cyber-Physical Systems, specialized to enhancing water efficiency in the Process Industry, follow a three-direction approach: (a) diagnostic (monitoring water efficiency, diagnosing problems, estimating improvement margins); (b) production chain enhancement (application of SotA water recovery technologies & practices); and (c) optimization (of water use/recovery/reuse processes). The WaterCPS, the core outcome of the AquaSPICE Innovation Action, consists of a physical part and a cyber (digital) part. The physical part comprises of the industry’s existing production line(s) and value chain(s), plus the new SotA water efficiency technologies & practices deployed. The cyber part consists of the Digital Twin, the Real Time Monitoring system (RTM) and the WaterCPS digital Platform. The RTM plays the role of intermediary between the physical system and its digital twin, with its sensors incorporated as part of the physical system and its data communication & management components incorporated as part of the cyber system. The cyber part of WaterCPS and its integration with the water efficiency technologies & practices, creates significant added value for them and have a measurable impact on water efficiency by supporting the above mentioned three directions to water efficiency enhancement.