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Latest Milestones and Exciting Progress in ECOLOOP
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The ECOLOOP project continues to advance at full speed, with several exciting developments across its pilots.
In Spain, the biogas plant construction at the pilot site in Silla (Valencia) is underway and is expected to be completed by March 2026. This marks a major milestone in the project, bringing the project closer to demonstrating sustainable energy solutions in a real-world setting. Besides, the partner Inderen is set to finalize a contract with the local energy company for the installation of the geothermal plant, also expected to be operational by March 2026.
Meanwhile, the CO2 sequestration Tool, whose first version was released in October, is now fully integrated into the Estonia pilot and is ready to be deployed across other project sites, offering a robust tool to assist forest and landowners to select the best tree species on the given soil type to maximise the CO2 uptake.
The ECOLOOP Soil Living Lab, initially planned as a theoretical guideline for co-innovation spaces on soil health and renewable energy, will now be actively applied in the Spanish pilot. Other pilots have been invited to implement these approaches, and the Bulgarian pilot has already expressed interest in adopting them. |
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In Bulgaria, a major upgrade has been completed with the installation of new sensor technology, fully integrated into the Decision Support System (DSS) Platform, enhancing data-driven decision-making.
Meanwhile, in Slovenia, the existing biogas plant has been connected to the DSS Platform, and the partner Biomasa is progressing with pyrolysis activities, contributing to the project’s circular economy goals.
The Financial Support System, developed by AVA-ASAJA, is in its initial stage and aims to evolve into a comprehensive application integrating data from all project pilots, facilitating better financial planning and support for renewable energy initiatives. |
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Looking ahead, the project will focus on impact evaluation, replication strategies, and the development of roadmaps for the exploitation of its solutions. Partners are currently gathering information on their Key Exploitable Results, which will be shared and collaboratively developed early next year, with guidance from the EU Booster programme. |
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ECOLOOP General Assemblies Mark Key Project Milestones
The ECOLOOP consortium held several General Assemblies in 2025, providing important opportunities to review progress, align next steps, and demonstrate achievements to the European Commission.
In April, the 3rd General Assembly took place in Ljubljana, hosted by the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (KIS) and the University of Ljubljana (IRI UL). Partners visited the Slovenian pilot site at Grajska cesta, where KIS presented its micro biogas plant using slurry and agri-waste, currently being upgraded to produce biomethane for agricultural machinery. The site will play a key role in testing multiple ECOLOOP solutions, including biogas production, renewable energy integration, soil health, and the Soil Living Lab.
In October, the consortium met again in Tallinn, hosted by the Estonian University of Life Sciences. The meeting strengthened coordination across work packages and included a visit to Fibenol, offering insights into advanced biorefinery technologies and their role in developing sustainable bio-based value chains.
These meetings followed the first ECOLOOP Review Meeting with the European Commission in June 2025, which confirmed the project’s strong progress and positive trajectory. |
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ECOLOOP Featured by CORDIS EU |
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The Publications Office of the European Union (CORDIS EU) has published its first article on the ECOLOOP project, describing it as “meeting farmer needs while benefiting the environment.” Being featured by the EU’s flagship Community Research and Development Information Service is an important recognition of ECOLOOP’s work and impact. |
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Real Stories: ECOLOOP in Action |
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ECOLOOP is launching a new video series produced by partner AVA–ASAJA, showcasing real-life experiences of end-users applying renewable energy solutions in rural settings.
The first episode features Miguel Mislata, director of SAT Avimis, a poultry farm in Fuenterrobles (Valencia, Spain). His story highlights how access to public funding enabled the successful adoption of renewable energy, demonstrating its potential to drive innovation and sustainability in rural areas.
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Smart Agri-PV Pilot in Albena Moves Forward with Trakia University’s Support |
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A team of experts from Trakia University visited the ECOLOOP pilot site near Albena, Bulgaria, in October to review the latest developments in smart agriculture and renewable energy integration.
During the visit, the researchers evaluated the progress of the Smart Agri-PV greenhouses, with a particular focus on the performance of the newly installed photovoltaic panels. They also collaborated closely with local partners to fine-tune the strategy for the next greenhouse crop cycles, an essential step in validating the site’s smart-farming approach.
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How Tree Species Shape Biodiversity on Former Farmland |
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Researchers from the Estonian University of Life Sciences (EULS) have been monitoring tree plantations on former agricultural land for nearly 20 years. Their latest study, published in New Forests (Tullus et al., 2025), examines how fast-growing species such as silver birch and hybrid aspen differ in their impact on biodiversity. |
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ECOLOOP Showcased Smart Farming and Renewable Energy Innovation at ENLIT Europe 2025 |
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The ECOLOOP project participated in ENLIT Europe 2025, one of Europe’s leading energy transition events, held in Bilbao from 18 to 20 November 2025. The project was presented in the EU Project Zone, where it showcased its integrated approach to combining renewable energy technologies with smart farming solutions for sustainable rural development.
ECOLOOP also took part in the session “AI in the Energy Transition” on 19 November, where ETRA partners showed how ECOLOOP is using AI to bridge two worlds that rarely meet: renewable energy and smart agriculture. ECOLOOP is demonstrating how AI, IoT and renewable energy can transform rural areas into resilient, sustainable and data-driven ecosystems.
Besides, earlier in the year, as part of Enlit Europe’s On the Road series, the ECOLOOP pilot site near Valencia, Spain, was visited to demonstrate how the project is helping rural communities reduce their carbon footprint through renewable energy technologies and circular farming practices. Resulting in a video of the site visit. |
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SETUP Advances Smart Energy Optimisation in Slovenia |
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Kolektor sETup (SETUP), an independent energy aggregator and ECOLOOP partner, is supporting the digitalisation and optimisation of energy asset portfolios in Slovenia to strengthen smarter and more resilient energy systems.
Within ECOLOOP, SETUP is developing an advanced optimisation model for Biomasa’s energy portfolio, focusing on improved asset scheduling and the provision of ancillary services such as grid support. In parallel, SETUP and Biomasa have been working together to digitally model the portfolio on SETUP’s platform, enabling realistic simulations and new opportunities for efficiency and monetisation.
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IRI UL Driving Renewable Energy Adoption in Rural Areas |
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The Innovation and Research Institute of the University of Ljubljana (IRI UL) is a key ECOLOOP partner, contributing expertise in project coordination, risk management, and technical development.
Within ECOLOOP, IRI UL leads work on economic and social support for farmers and foresters, promoting their role as renewable energy prosumers. This includes developing innovative business models, analysing regulatory and socio-economic frameworks, and identifying barriers to renewable energy deployment. In parallel, IRI UL supports the Slovenian pilot at the Biomasa site, contributing to the design of biomethane use cases and ensuring solutions are aligned with real-world needs.
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đź“şECOLOOP Pilot Sites in Estonia |
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đź“şECOLOOP Pilot Sites in Slovenia |
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đź“şManaging Energy and Crops with ECOLOOP Decision Support Tool |
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đź“şENLIT On The Road visits the Valencia Pilot Site |
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Craving science? |
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New scientific publications from TRAKIA UNIVERSITY partner on Implementation Gaps in Renewable Energy Integration: Evidence from Rural Practitioners in ECOLOOP pilot sites; and Unlocking the Economic Potential of Renewable Energy in Rural and Agricultural Sectors. |
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ECOLOOP’s Events Roadmap
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- EU Sustainable Energy Week 2025 – ECOLOOP exhibited its innovative agri-energy solutions. See more
- High-Impact Events in Slovenia – ECOLOOP participated in a series of Slovenian events showcasing its contributions to sustainable agriculture and renewable energy. See more
- Workshop in Valencia: “The Importance of Soil Care” – The project engaged stakeholders on strategies to improve soil health. See more
- EuroSoil 2025 – ECOLOOP presented posters and research findings on sustainable soil management practices. See more
- Energy Global Expo & Congress 2025, Valencia – The project contributed to the session on “Applied R&D in Agrivoltaics”, highlighting the integration of solar energy and agriculture. See more
- ENLIT 2025: first time for ECOLOOP at the EU project Zone. See more
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