Meet NAMOR Partners: University of Ljubljana
What is your organisation’s role in the NAMOR project?
The University of Ljubljana is one of two key partners responsible for the design and preparation of the Slovenian demonstration plant. This facility features an innovative decentralized wastewater treatment system that couples an algae raceway pond with a sequencing batch reactor. Beyond the initial setup, our team will monitor operation and collaborate in the optimization of the treatment process. Additionally, we will also evaluate the resulting microalgal biomass to identify high-value opportunities for resource recovery.
What do you expect to be the key benefits that the NAMOR project will deliver?
We expect NAMOR to deliver advanced and robust algae-based treatment technologies suitable for decentralised wastewater treatment that is adaptable to different inflow characteristics and across Europe’s diverse climate zones—from the Mediterranean to the cold North. By successfully valorising microalgal biomass, we expect NAMOR to transform ‘waste’ into a resource, moving us closer to a circular economy. By proving that nature-based solutions are both effective and sustainable, NAMOR will help to shift the European water sector toward a more resilient and circular future.
How have the first months of the NAMOR project been for so far?
The first months of the NAMOR project have been focused on laying the practical groundwork for our demonstration plant and establishing strong working relationships. We began by collaborating closely with our Slovenian partner, Algen, on preparatory activities, providing them with a mixed alga-bacteria culture from an existing high-rate algae pond for their laboratory cultivation and testing.
In parallel, we held productive meetings with the Public Utility Company Ajdovščina to present the project scope. As a result, the demonstration plant will be positioned directly on the premises of their municipal wastewater treatment facility. To ensure smooth progress, our research group maintains regular coordination meetings with Algen, alongside our active participation in the broader project working groups.
We have also strengthened our technical ties with international partners. For instance, we are currently working with the Greek partner, CERTH, to prepare and implement analytical methods for algae biomass characterisation. Finally, we have mapped out the key stakeholders necessary to build a Living Lab around our demonstration site, ensuring the project is well-integrated into the local community.
