On 29 January, in Cartagena, Spain, the NPower project was officially launched. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, NPower is redefining how Europe manages Nitrogen and Phosphorus (N/P) by connecting regional innovation with scalable solutions. The project aims to rebalance N/P flows, cut emissions, and restore degraded ecosystems while fostering a circular nutrient economy that delivers lasting benefits for communities and the environment.
On 29 January, in Cartagena, Spain, the NPower project was officially launched. Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, NPower is redefining how Europe manages Nitrogen and Phosphorus (N/P) by connecting regional innovation with scalable solutions. The project aims to rebalance N/P flows, cut emissions, and restore degraded ecosystems while fostering a circular nutrient economy that delivers lasting benefits for communities and the environment.
Coordinated by a multidisciplinary consortium bringing together expertise from universities and research centres, technology development companies, governance and policy institutions, water management stakeholders, the agricultural and agri-food sector, industry and bioeconomy, as well as innovation and civil society organisations, NPower aims to:
Demonstrate six nutrient recovery technologies producing eight recovered fertilisers.
Establish innovative governance measures to support sustainable nutrient management.
The project is designed to tailor solutions to specific regional challenges. Each Regional Cluster (RC) will serve as a hub for innovation, focusing on local needs and scalable strategies:
Spain will act as the project’s demonstration hub, implementing six innovative recovery technologies and developing new software for nutrient management, addressing challenges in intensive agriculture and aquaculture.
Belgium will assess the replicability of Spanish demonstrations while contributing expertise in nutrient flow analysis for EU-wide application.
Finland will bring its bioeconomy expertise to evaluate solutions suited to Nordic conditions.
Ireland will provide key insights from an insular perspective, particularly for maritime environments.
Additionally, each Cluster will contribute local best practices and governance measures, ensuring the adaptability of solutions across Europe’s diverse landscapes.
Tackling nitrogen and phosphorus excess requires collaboration across sectors. With NPower, Europe is taking a decisive step towards more efficient and sustainable nutrient management, laying the foundation for a more resilient future for the environment, agriculture, and communities.
