Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, RHE-MEDiation is a three-year project (2023-2026) that aims to destress the Mediterranean Sea from chemical pollution, by testing and validating an innovative remediation technology: microalgae-based photobioreactors. These photobioreactors were integrated within existing water/wastewater treatment systems to enhance the removal of nutrients, heavy metals and forever chemicals. The system also includes mobile and fixed sensing systems to identify and measure chemical substances in fresh, sewage and marine waters. The data from these sensors are uploaded to the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) data portal to contribute to the Digital Twin of the Ocean. EMB lead a task that collated the results from the case studies, and from the market perspectives and lifecycle assessment into a comprehensive policy document that showcased the outcomes of the project. More information here.
The RHE-MEDiation Policy Brief, developed by EMB, presents the main policy-relevant outcomes from the project. The microalgae-based wastewater treatment system tested in the framework of the project offers a scalable, modular alternative capable of removing nutrients and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, while producing biomass that can be reused as biofertilizer or bioenergy, supporting both pollution reduction and circular economy goals. Based on the project’s findings and experience in testing an innovative remediation technology to address chemical pollution, recommendations are provided to help modernise wastewater treatment and enable uptake of the RHE-MEDiation approach.
Published on 23 April 2026 during the Marine Shield Cluster Webinar titled “From Monitoring to Remediation”, EMB presented the Policy Brief. The webinar showcased how Marine Shield Cluster projects address the full cycle of marine pollution challenges, from environmental monitoring and data collection, to mitigation strategies and remediation approaches.
Download the RHE-MEDiation Policy Brief here. The document is available for download in English, Italian, Greek and Turkish.