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R&D spirit

Research and development based on disruptive engineering

As natural extension of CADE’s activities as engineering and consultancy services provider, the company develop own R&D activities since 2009 around new disruptive technologies and industrial applications related to renewables and clean-tech industries. Up to date, most relevant Research and Development projects and milestones achieved are summarized as follows:

ECLOSION

ECLOSION project will develop new materials, technologies, and processes for the generation, storage, transport, and use of renewable hydrogen and bio-methane, to be obtained from bio-waste (urban, agri-food, wastewater, and sewage sludge). The project will validate disruptive thermochemical, electrochemical, and bioelectrochemical systems powered by photovoltaic and wind energy for the energy use of biowaste and wastewater, transforming them into hydrogen and biomethane at low cost

2022

TES4TRIG

Project to be executed under the European program CSP-Era.Net and which aims to demonstrate the viability of applying a thermal storage system to a trigeneration system (cold, heat and electricity) having a concentration solar field as an energy source. In November 2020, the positive evaluation notification of the project was received with a score of 12.5 points out of 15. and NTUA and Demokritos (Greece) and SIJ (Germany) Technology Centers. The total execution budget exceeds € 1.5 M

2021

S-GEN

Technical-economic feasibility study of the application of SCWG technology to the treatment of sewage sludge

2016

INNOVA-ADELANTE (2016-2019)

Execution of several R + D + i projects for the application of SCWG technology for the treatment of sewage sludge and desalination of purge water from cooling towers as well as the innovative product IN-CYCLE which is a cycle optimization tool of water and its equipment in solar thermal power plants.

2016

MSLoop

KOM of MSLOOP Project funding under FAST TRACK TO INNOVATION Programme (FTI) (Horizon 2020). MSLOOP aims to validate a technology consisting of developing a cost effective solar field for CSP Parabolic Trough Power Plants using optimized ternary molten salts as HTF with an innovative hybridization system.

2014

PYME Innovadora Certification

Obtaining the certificate as an Innovative SME by MINECO

2015

Editor

Inicio del proyecto EDITOR, ejecutado bajo el programa de ayudas SOLAR-ERA.net dentro del 7º Programa Marco de la Comisión Europea. El objetivo de este proyecto ha sido desarrollar un sistema innovador de suministro continuo de energía solar, integrado en una planta industrial de proceso. Dicho sistema integra un nuevo fluido térmico caloportador con base silicona (HTF) con colectores cilindro parabólicos (PTC) de Protarget y un sistema de almacenamiento térmico en hormigón (C-TES) desarrollado por CADE. La primera planta con el sistema de EDITOR ha sido instalada en Chipre, en la fábrica de refrescos KEAN, donde actualmente se está suministrando vapor de proceso de manera continuada y con energía solar, desde septiembre de 2018.

2016

Patents

Pons Patentes y Marcas (IP consultancy expert) submit a positive patentability report related to the main process and components of SCWG technology.

2016

UNE 166002

CADE obtains the innovation management certification according to UNE 166002.

2014

Process CSP

CADE and Protarget sign a commercial agreement to release in Spain innovative thermal industrial applications (process heating and cooling) based on protarget's solar collector technology (PTC) aimed to be integraded with CADE's solidTES. This way, a new business division is created denominated as processCSP.

2014

SCWG

Launch of SCWG (supercritical water gasification Technology of biomasses with high content in water for CH4/H2 production). Project is funded by CDTI. Technology is currently on experimental stage, incorporating process upgrades.

2012

SolidTES

CADE participates as engineering contractor  in the design of a pilot plant for a thermal energy storage system based on concrete. As a result of this collaboration, commercial agreements for technology commercialization are reached. CADE release their SolidTES technology including energy storage in high temperature concrete (C-TES)

2011

Innospray

Innospray Project execution starts (drying process by means Innovative pulverization). Funded by CDTI. Nowadays, technology developed by CADE (CADE ZeroLD) is commercially available. A number of proposals for EPC supply of ZeroLD are currently under evaluation.

2010

2021
TES4TRIG

Project to be executed under the European program CSP-Era.Net and which aims to demonstrate the viability of applying a thermal storage system to a trigeneration system (cold, heat and electricity) having a concentration solar field as an energy source.

In November 2020, the positive evaluation notification of the project was received with a score of 12.5 points out of 15. and NTUA and Demokritos (Greece) and SIJ (Germany) Technology Centers. The total execution budget exceeds € 1.5 M

2015
pyme-innovadora-meic-en-3
Innovative SME Certificate

Obtaining the certificate as an Innovative SME by MINECO

2012
scwg

Launch of SCWG (supercritical water gasification Technology of biomasses with high content in water for CH4/H2 production). Project is funded by CDTI. Technology is currently on experimental stage, incorporating process upgrades.

2010
innospray

Innospray Project execution starts (drying process by means Innovative pulverization). Funded by CDTI. Nowadays, technology developed by CADE (CADE ZeroLD) is commercially available. A number of proposals for EPC supply of ZeroLD are currently under evaluation.

2022
LOGO ECLOSION
ECLOSION

ECLOSION project will develop new materials, technologies, and processes for the generation, storage, transport, and use of renewable hydrogen and bio-methane, to be obtained from bio-waste (urban, agri-food, wastewater, and sewage sludge).

The project will validate disruptive thermochemical, electrochemical, and bioelectrochemical systems powered by photovoltaic and wind energy for the energy use of biowaste and wastewater, transforming them into hydrogen and biomethane at low cost

2016
S-GEN

Technical-economic feasibility study of the application of SCWG technology to the treatment of sewage sludge

2016
INNOVA-ADELANTE (2016-2019)

Execution of several R + D + i projects for the application of SCWG technology for the treatment of sewage sludge and desalination of purge water from cooling towers as well as the innovative product IN-CYCLE which is a cycle optimization tool of water and its equipment in solar thermal power plants.

2016
MSLOOP logo

KOM of MSLOOP Project funding under FAST TRACK TO INNOVATION Programme (FTI) (Horizon 2020). MSLOOP aims to validate a technology consisting of developing a cost effective solar field for CSP Parabolic Trough Power Plants using optimized ternary molten salts as HTF with an innovative hybridization system.

2016
EDITOR

KOM of EDITOR Project funding by SOLAR-ERA.net within 7th Framework Program of European Commission. EDITOR aims to design and demonstrate an innovative solar-sourced energy supply system (24/7) integrated in an operating process industrial facility. The system integrates a new silicon-based HTF with PTC solar collectors (Protarget) and the CADE’s C-TES (concrete thermal energy storage system).

The first plant with EDITOR system has been installed in Cyprus, at KEAN Soft Drinks’ factory,  and it is continuously delivering process steam with solar energy, since September 2018.

2016

Pons Patentes y Marcas (IP consultancy expert) submit a positive patentability report related to the main process and components of SCWG technology.

2014
UNE-166002

CADE obtains the innovation management certification according to UNE 166002.

2014

CADE and Protarget sign a commercial agreement to release in Spain innovative thermal industrial applications (process heating and cooling) based on protarget’s solar collector technology (PTC) aimed to be integraded with CADE’s solidTES. This way, a new business division is created denominated as processCSP.

2011
SolidTES - Thermal Energy Storage System

CADE participates as engineering contractor  in the design of a pilot plant for a thermal energy storage system based on concrete. As a result of this collaboration, commercial agreements for technology commercialization are reached. CADE release their SolidTES technology including energy storage in high temperature concrete (C-TES)

Nowadays, R&D activities have become into a strengthened core business on which future growth of the company is supported.  This way, CADE is currently commercializing (turnkey or licensing) comprehensive innovative solutions for solar thermal energy storage (solidTES), solar-hybridized zero liquid discharge wastewater treatment (ZeroLD) or valorization treatments for wet organic substances (scwg ZeroSD), among other proprietary or sponsored technologies.

Ongoing R&D projects (European funding)

EDITOR Project CSP thermal energy storage almacenamiento térmico

EDITOR Project (Evaluation of the Dispatchability of a Parabolic Trough Collector System with Concrete Storage) submitted to SOLAR-ERA.NET Transnational Call 2014: PV2 and CSP in 2014.

The objective of EDITOR is to carry out industrial research and development that demonstrates and verifies the dispatchability and performance of a solar power system designed for continuous process heating supply.

The system consists of a mid-sized parabolic trough collector loop combined with a concrete thermal energy storage and is experimentally designed for industrial applications requiring heating or cooling on a 24 hour basis.

The solar power plant has been built in Cyprus, which has excellent solar resources, will be integrated in KEAN SOFT DRINK facility, a food and beverage production facility to which EDITOR plant will provide with a continuous 24h low-pressure saturated steam supply.

EDITOR’s goal is not just to verify an innovative, groundbreaking system to storage energy based on concrete, but it will also operate on temperatures over 400°C, which is made possible thanks to a new receiver tube and an innovative, environmentally friendly silicone-based thermal oil.

The three years project not only involves the technical activities of constructing, commissioning and executing completely the solar power system, but will also cover commercial considerations, such as studying the feasibility of scale-up, identifying future customers, and communication regarding this important development with the potential market.

CADE has supplied in EPC modality the TES system based on solidTES technology specially design to operate over 400⁰C. TES System has been designed to deliver 75 kW during the hours without radiation in a period of 2 shifts (16 hours).

The EDITOR team is made up of 5 partners from three countries, all of whom bring the specific experience of the solar industry required to ensure that the project will be successful:

logo msloop grande
cost effective solar field for CSP Parabolic Trough Power Plants

MSLOOP 2.0 Project 2.4M€ funded under Fast Track To Innovation Programm (FTI- H2020) to promote close-to-the-market innovation activities.

MSLOOP will improve the storage capacity of existing parabolic trough solar plants and it will be configured to make the integration of a hybrid plant concept possible, while providing firm and dispatchable electricity and using 100% renewable energy sources.

Regarding the environmental impact, MSLOOP will mitigate the oil issues by using an eco-friendly heat transfer fluid and will reduce the water consumption without penalizing the CSP plant performance.

MSLOOP has been focused on the market-drivers’ interests from the beginning of the Project in order to launch the solution in open tenders in less of 6 months after the start of the Project, boosting significant contributions to industry, environment and society. This will involve a deeper penetration of CSP plants in the generation mix and thus, an increase of the renewable share.

CADE will be in charge of several WPs related to operation parameters optimization and reliability improvement, detail engineering, manufacturing and assembly supervision, operation and performance testing and validation, commercial scale up and feasibility studies.

The MSLOOP 2.0 consortium consists of a multidisciplinary team formed by five partners from three European Union member countries (Spain, Italy and Germany) in strategic fields within solar thermal sector. This composition will boost an innovative development capable of achieving a strong positioning in the market:

Executed R&D projects (National funding)

Innospray (Design and Development of Innovative Spray Dryers) funded under Programa de Ayudas a Proyectos de Cooperación Interempresas (CIE) managed by Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (CDTI). 2010-2012

INNOSPRAY technology allows to process waste water flows with a high content of inorganic load (high conductivity water) transforming them into a dried product through an innovative process based on multi-stage evaporation and spray drying technology. INNOSPRAY process is conceived to be fully integrated with solar thermal power for a complete eco-friendly and ZLD technology with water recovery.

The development of ZeroLD for leachate streams has been conceived to supply an efficient, versatile drying method aimed to minimize and valorize leachate, obtaining solid products of controlled granulometry and hydrophobic or inertized

SCWG (Supercritical Water Gasification Valorization and elimination of organic sludge) funded under Proyectos de Investigación y Desarrollo (PID) managed by Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (CDTI). 2012-2014

Technology for valorization of wet biomass and hydrocarbon wastes through supercritical water gasification, which allows to obtain syngas for direct energetic valorization by combustion, CHP or aimed to produce hydrogen. In conjunction with clean water recovery and carbon dioxide capture make SCWG a powerful environmental technology for waste treatment.
A very competitive and disruptive product named ZeroSD has been specially developed for complete elimination of UWWTP sludge, obtaining high calorific & high pressure GAS for direct valorization or CHP applications in plants, and clean water recovery.

Horizonte PYME S-GEN CADE Project: funded by CDTI and Horizonte Pyme

This Project is aimed to carry out a research on technical and economic feasibility of an innovative system of sewage sludge valorization coming from UWWTP urban wastewater treatment plants. Research concludes with the definition of an exhaustive business plan for the international commercial exploitation of the new technology product .

Results and conclusions of such research allowed CADE to identify main magnitudes and parameters of potential market as well as define business plan to be implemented.

New technology system application implies a great economic impact, not only related to the improvement of environmental sustainability in sewage sludge treatment and valorization, but also related to the considerable saving in consumption costs.

Works completed: (i) requirements evaluation of potential technology users, (ii) technical and economic feasibility research of proposed industrial solution and (iii) business plan for commercialization of technology product.

This project is founded by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad) within the framework of the supporting program Horizonte PYME of year 2015, related to governmental programm of business leadership within of Governmental plan of Scientific and Technical Research and innovation 2013-2016 (Programa Estatal de Liderazgo Empresarial - Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2013-2016)

Other R&D programs (National funding)

Programa INNOVA-ADELANTE 2016-2019.

Public funding aimed to support the conceptual definition of the “ZeroSD” commercial product. “ZeroSD” is a gasification plant of UWWTP (Urban Waste Water Treatment Plant) sludge to generate Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and to recover the water and the nutrients, this is, a real ZERO WASTE solution with 100% resources recovery.

Programa Emplea 2014.

Public funding for technologist hiring to be incorporated in R+D+i activities (2014-2015). CADE created this technical position as a consequence of this public funding, today this position is consolidated and allows CADE to have a specific postgraduated specialist in R+D+I thanks to the Innovation Master degree acquired as part of this program.

Programa Torres Quevedo.

Three years public funding for hiring of PhD degree specialists involved in industrial R&D, experimental development or feasibility research. The program was conceived to support professional development of researcher as well as to stimulate private sector demand of expert staff in order to carry out R+D+i plans and projects. After the end of this program, CADE continues counting on a PhD in Chemical Sciences within its Process and Technology department.

Programa Innoempresa DGYPYME.

Funding program aimed to support innovation activities in SMEs (small and medium entreprises) for the completion of projects or actions within technological, organizationial or management ambits. Following projects have been carried out as part of this call:

Collaboration with regional R+D+i agents or other private companies beyond a relationship as client-supplier (agreements, contracts).

Albacete

Parque Científico y Tecnológico

Paseo de la Innovación 3, 02006 Albacete – España

Tel. +34 967 19 01 72

Madrid

C/Raimundo Fernández Villaverde, 53 (Entreplanta)

28020

Madrid – España

Albacete

Parque Científico y Tecnológico

Paseo de la Innovación 3, 02006 Albacete – España

Tel. +34 967 19 01 72

Madrid

C/Raimundo Fernández Villaverde, 53 (Entreplanta)

28020

Madrid – España

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