Sustainable Solution from ITU to Africa: SCORE Project Receives LEAP-SE Support

The SCORE Project, coordinated by Istanbul Technical University under the LEAP-SE (Long-Term EU–Africa Partnership on Sustainable Energy) call, which aims to strengthen research and innovation (R&D and innovation) partnerships in the field of sustainable energy between Europe and Africa, has successfully passed the international evaluation process and is now eligible for funding.

The SCORE Project, developed by researchers at Istanbul Technical University under the prestigious LEAP-SE call, co-funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe Program and with TÜBİTAK from Türkiye among the funding organizations, was awarded support for its innovative approach, strong international collaboration structure, and deployable solutions. The main objective of this prestigious call, which addresses energy, water, and agriculture holistically, is to bring together innovative technologies developed in Europe with the real needs of Africa, strengthen local capacity, and implement lasting, sustainable solutions in the field.

In the Mediterranean and African regions, where water stress is increasingly prevalent, SCORE has been shaped by the need for sustainable, low-chemical input, and energy-efficient treatment technologies. It aims to directly contribute to agricultural production through solar-powered integrated MBR–AOP (Membrane Bioreactor – Advanced Oxidation Processes) systems. Thanks to its consortium structure comprising Türkiye, Algeria, Tunisia, and Romania, the project addresses pilot-scale biological treatment, advanced oxidation processes, and agricultural applications in an integrated manner. The solar-integrated MBR pilots to be established within the scope of the project will be combined with solar Photo-Fenton, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), and nZVI@biochar-supported hybrid ozonation processes to achieve high-efficiency removal of persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, and pathogens.

As the coordinator of the project, Istanbul Technical University is playing both a scientific and strategic role by bringing advanced solar-powered wastewater treatment technologies to the Mediterranean and African regions. Thanks to the systems to be developed with the SCORE Project, wastewater will be made compliant with WHO irrigation standards, while limiting the transfer of persistent pollutants harmful to the environment and human health into agricultural production and the food chain. At the same time, MBR sludge will be converted into a safe soil conditioner through thermal conditioning and zeolite-supported stabilization, thus supporting the circular economy approach. The agricultural effects of the treated water will be tested using tomato seedlings and field trials, ensuring the production of safe irrigation water that local farmers can use in regions where water scarcity threatens agricultural production.

The LEAP-SE call aims not only to develop technology, but also to transfer knowledge, experience, and engineering capacity from Europe to Africa, establish pilot applications in the field, and adapt these technologies to local conditions. In line with this vision, the SCORE Project brings together researchers from Türkiye, Algeria, Tunisia, and Romania to provide concrete, applicable, and scalable solutions to Africa. The solar energy systems to be developed will offer environmentally friendly solutions that reduce external dependency through low energy and chemical consumption, while the outputs obtained will be validated in the field in a manner suitable for direct public use.

Under the coordination of the ITU Membrane Technologies Application and Research Center (MEMTEK) and led by Prof. Dr. İsmail Koyuncu, a team including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kübra Altuntaş, Asst. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Paşaoğlu, Prof. Dr. S. Levent Kuzu, Prof. Dr. Vahid Vatanpour, Prof. Dr. M. Evren Erşahin, Prof. Dr. Hale Özgün, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Börte Köse Mutlu, Asst. Prof. Dr. Recep Kaya, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Türker Türken will carry out MBR processes, advanced oxidation processes using cold atmospheric plasma systems, sludge management, and SCADA-based process monitoring activities.

The project's agricultural quality, product safety, and agronomic analyses will be conducted by Prof. Dr. Esra Çapanoğlu Güven, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gülay Özkan, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslı Can Karaca from the Food Engineering Department at ITU. The effects of treated water on product yield, quality parameters, and food safety will be evaluated.