Balancing Nitrogen and Phosphorus flOWs by budgEting at Regional scale
NPower
Adopting effective technologies and practices to improve the management of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) flows is a challenge in various economic sectors such as agriculture, other primary sectors, water and waste management, energy and transport, and energy. Additionally, the local dimension of N/P sources and the diversity of water and soil ecosystems across different locations limit the impact of uniform policy measures and related governance models. Addressing this is a priority of EU environmental governance. NPower will create four regional clusters across Europe to guarantee representativity, replicability and impact of developed solutions at EU level: Spain (representing South Europe), Belgium (Central Europe), Finland (North Europe), and Ireland (West/Insular Europe). This project addresses the main challenges of the management of N/P flows in Murcia region, Spain, and involves the other clusters to assure the solutions developed are applicable in as many European realities as possible.
To do so, NPower will
1) model N/P flows across the 5 key sectors to create a regional N/P budget for the paradigmatic region of Murcia,
2) demonstrate 6 recovery technologies, 8 recovered fertilizers and 20 BMPs within and among covered sectors that reduce and promote circular economy schemes,
3) design and showcase region-tailored governance measures to halt air, water, and soil N/P pollution, 4) guarantee EU representativity via knowledge transfer among clusters, and
5) disseminate effective N/P limiting solutions to practitioners and policy makers at local, regional, national and EU level. NPower solutions will be assessed on their environmental, socio-economic and behavioural effects.
NPower working is based on transnational collaboration between scientists, practitioners and public authorities, in relevant emitting sectors including related industries, NGOs, general public and representatives of all relevant stakeholders in the management of N/P across 4 EU clusters. NPower includes participatory decision-making activities in the design of source and effect -based measures, sustainable exploitation models and innovative governance solutions. The development of more effective policies and regulations in N/P management and N/P flows re-balance is supported by the collaboration with representatives of national and EU policy bodies.
More information can be found on the project website: https://www.npower.es/en
