Dr. Colpan participated in the 2nd Project Meeting of the Sludge2Energy project and the RETASTE 2026 Conference, held in Rethymno, Crete, Greece, on September 14–17, 2026.
The Dokuz Eylül University team attending the project meeting consisted of Prof. Dr. Azize Ayol, Prof. Dr. Can Özgür Çolpan, Res. Asst. Engin Deniz Gülay, and Res. Asst. Mehmet Utku Öztürk. During the Sludge2Energy project meeting on September 15, Dr. Colpan presented the financial and administrative progress of Dokuz Eylül University within the project. The presentation covered budget and expenditure monitoring, financial and administrative procedures, reporting activities, and the management of supporting documentation. The partners also discussed the overall progress of the project, ongoing work packages, and preparations for the upcoming reporting period.
On September 16, Prof. Dr. Azize Ayol delivered a keynote lecture entitled “Sustainable Sewage Sludge Management: Risks, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Circular Economy” within the session “Sewage Sludge: Opportunities, Threats and Solutions.” The keynote addressed current challenges and opportunities in sustainable sewage sludge management, with particular emphasis on resource recovery and circular economy approaches.
The DEU team also contributed to the scientific program with two presentations. Engin Deniz Gülay presented “Energy Self-Sufficiency in Municipal Sewage Sludge Pyrolysis: A Simulation Study,” while Mehmet Utku Öztürk presented “Integrated Sewage Sludge Management and Energy Recovery in Türkiye: A Circular Economy Perspective.”
During RETASTE 2026, the team followed scientific sessions focusing on sewage sludge management, pyrolysis, energy recovery, circular economy, and wastewater treatment, while also exchanging views with researchers from different institutions and countries on technical approaches, future scientific studies, and potential collaborations related to the Sludge2Energy project.
