ECOLOOP
Project description
ECOLOOP is a four-year research and innovation project funded by the Horizon Europe programme. Its core objective is to optimise the combination of renewable energy sources (RES) in rural areas. The project addresses the interconnected challenges of energy, biodiversity, and rural development, aiming to support the sustainable use of natural resources, reduce carbon emissions, and increase the resilience of agriculture and forestry to climate change.
The project is coordinated by ETRA I+D (Spain) and brings together 14 partners from Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, and Bulgaria, including the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia.
Project Objectives
ECOLOOP develops and demonstrates a set of solutions to:
- optimise the use of various distributed renewable energy sources (biogas, biomass, agri-PV, geothermal),
- meet local energy demands (electricity, heating, cooling, transport, waste management),
- improve soil health and biodiversity,
- promote circular economy models and regional development in rural areas.
The project focuses on three core dimensions:
- Energy – creating local energy ecosystems that promote energy independence, resilience, and environmental sustainability.
- Biodiversity – developing sustainable agricultural practices and bio-based products that enhance circularity and soil quality.
- Social – supporting regional development through new opportunities for farmers and foresters, contributing to local growth and stability.
Expected Results
ECOLOOP tests and validates seven innovations across four pilot sites (in Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, and Bulgaria), with the aim of ensuring replicability, scalability, and market uptake:
- Biogas production
- RES integration
- Soil health
- Decision support system
- CO₂ sequestration
- Farmer support
- Soil Living Lab
Pilot sites represent diverse climates, geographical settings, and socio-economic conditions in both agriculture and forestry. In Slovenia, the pilot site is located at the Jablje Infrastructure Centre, where the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia operates a micro biogas plant, which is being upgraded to produce biomethane and power agricultural machinery.
