Given the name “City of Science and Innovation” for its years of distinct environmental efforts, the small village of La Almunia, Spain has grown in recognition for its technological innovations. From an outsider’s perspective, La Almunia may seem to be very rural, but in fact it is a technological hub for sustainable innovations and advancements. Across the village there are various projects currently in progress that are advancing the town in an upward direction.
On the outskirts of the town, a local egg farm claims to have used the first tractor run on bio-methane produced entirely from hen droppings. Then, at the water-treatment plant, the lab is currently purifying wastewater using eco-friendly aquatic plants. Furthermore at the local preschool, the heated floors are a prize for the toddlers and generated by their solar-powered air heat pumps. La Almunia may be a small village but they are doing their part in creating technology that addresses the issues of climate change.
This may also be because they are the only village in Spain to house a public University. Founded 56 years ago, Polytechnic University School of La Almunia has a thriving research department and over 650 undergraduates studying engineering. One impressive finding was created by then student, Jesús Sancho, for his final project. Sancho was able to design a machine that, if fully developed, could automate the sample-taking of sludge and oxygen within wastewater and regenerate it to create greater energy efficiency in the treatment facilities. Sancho now works for La Almunia’s wastewater treatment plant.
Another influential citizen is 53-year-old fruit farmer, Victor Manuel Martínez. Back in the 1970s, the village’s farmers started to switch over to a more profitable cultivation of cherries, peaches, and apples by using electricity to pump the groundwater to the surface. Now, with that previous development in mind, Martínez took it a step further and installed solar panels on his farm to enhance irrigation. He used to irrigate in the night when electricity was at its cheapest, but now with the sun shining Martínez can get all the power he needs any time of day.
All of the farming advancements struck an interest in La Almunia’s mayor, Ms. Marta Gracia Blanco. Blanco created energy packages for those municipal buildings, such as retirement houses, youth hostels, and local families who were unable to invest in solar energy due to lack of needed installation space. With the help of Carlos Pesqué, the head of energy communities at Ecodes, there are investment opportunities being presented to these departments with the promise of energy bill reductions. Participants in the plan would see a 40% energy bill reduction for 25 years under the current Spanish energy distribution legislation.
All of these advancements are providing La Almunia with alternate options for combating climate change and the other challenges that come with it. Providing schools with this education and space for creation will in turn potentially provide future, global advancements. This just goes to show that you can never underestimate a small village’s determination.
