The European Commission launched the Zero Power Water Monitoring Horizon Prize in December 2017. This EIC (European Innovation Council) Horizon Prize rewarded breakthrough solutions that could drive the European industry forward by promoting transition of ICT technologies in water sector from pilot scale to wide market uptake to end up with the creation of a European borderless Digital Single Market for water services.
The winning solution was expected to put together wireless sensors using harvesting technologies and demonstrate positive impact in integrated Decision Support Systems for sustainable water resources management in natural or man-made environments.
Additionally, on top of the three cumulative award criteria “Positive impact”, “Reliability” and Innovative design”, it was requested to improve the efficiency of existing and possible new monitoring parameters, coupled with an interoperable solution, easy to deploy.
Climate change, water scarcity, the growing world population, the mainly increased urbanization are several of the factors driving global challenges for water management. Wireless sensor using harvesting technologies and Decision Support System for Water management monitoring are already available. But there is a need to put together wireless sensors using self-powered technologies and demonstrate the positive impact on energy consumption in acquiring, monitoring, communicating and analysing information about water resources.
By stimulating efforts at European level this Horizon Prize empowered the water distributors with solutions based on self-powered wireless sensor network platform, designed for real-time monitoring of water resources.
The competition received 20 applications from all over Europe and beyond. Five of them were shortlisted by a panel of international experts. After demonstrations and hearings, the jury decided to give the award to Fenix Hub, the solution submitted by Aqua Robur, a young company originating from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Fenix Hub is an all-in-one, zero-power, wireless, real-time sensor and data communication platform for smart water monitoring that is deployable anywhere. Each hub is independently placed throughout the water network and operates autonomously, while interconnected wirelessly and configured remotely.
Its primary application is to detect and reduce leakage through flow and pressure monitoring. But the platform is modular and extensible in design to manage a variety of parameters, such as water temperature and quality. It is compatible with a variety of sensors for multiple monitoring applications. Simply put, the customer can add the sensors that fit their needs, place them where they want in the network, and act on the information collected.
Fenix Hub can be placed anywhere in the pipeline network, independent from access to the electricity grid and fibre optics. It can operate in diverse environments and is built for durability and reliability.
The Tactile Display Horizon Prize rewarded the individual or team who came up with an affordable, portable, internet-enabled device with a full-page tactile display to be used by visually impaired and blind people.
Seeking the most affordable, sustainable and innovative design-driven material solution able to reduce the concentration of particulate matter in urban areas.
