Lantania is leading the development of the HYLIOS research project, which aims to find a sustainable and efficient solution to produce green H₂. Through new technological developments, HYLIOS aims to transform wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) into energy-efficient factories that recycle their resources. Specifically, the project will seek innovative solutions for the sustainable and efficient generation of green H₂ through photocatalytic wastewater treatment.

The Infrastructure, Water, and Energy Group is coordinating the multidisciplinary consortium. This consortium is formed by the companies Lantania Aguas and Ansasol, along with the research organizations: Industrial Technology Centre of Castilla La Mancha (ITECAM), Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ), as well as the IMDEA Energy Institute, which is developing HYLIOS. The initiative, which will be carried out over the next three years, has a budget of close to one million euros.

The project will focus on photocatalysis, a promising technology that makes the production of green H₂ possible without using electricity. It is a complementary alternative to traditional electrolysis systems. This technique offers a number of advantages in H₂ production such as: using a reactor that decomposes water without using external electricity, which reduces costs and simplifies the infrastructure needed to produce H₂; lowering the costs of producing green H₂ in the long term, as the systems and equipment used are less complex and expensive; and, finally, using lower quality water, reducing the costs of filtration and drinking water.

One of the most revolutionary aspects of HYLIOS in the field of photocatalysis is the development and integration of new, optimized, titanium-based metal-organic frameworks (or MOFs) that have the unique ability to harness solar energy to decompose water. This will also cause a paradigm shift in the treatment of wastewater by revaluing a resource that is often wasted, contributing to the strategy of sustainability and circular water management.

The photocatalytic H₂ production process to be undertaken throughout this project will be carried out using wastewater from treatment plants in which Lantania operates. Ansasol, a company specialized in the design, construction and management of photovoltaic and H₂ generation plants, will be responsible for conducting an in-depth study. This study will focus on the future scaling and integration of the technology developed in sectors linked to the production of green H₂ and electric energy in general.