The first LIFE CO₂toCH₄ Living Lab successfully took place on 18 December 2025 at the Lavrio Technological Cultural Park, marking the official opening of the Living Labs to the public within the LIFE CO₂toCH₄ (LIFE20 CCM/GR/001642) project.

The event brought together citizens, researchers, students, and stakeholders who had the opportunity to explore how CO₂ can be transformed into renewable biomethane through innovative biomethanation technologies.

The Living Lab opened with a warm welcome by Dr. Konstantinos Moustakas, who introduced the installation and significance of the CO₂toCH₄ system at Lavrio. This was followed by an insightful presentation from Mr. Vasileios Protonotarios, who highlighted the area’s rich mining history—from ancient Greek times (before 3000 BC) to the 20th century—and explained how the park now serves as a hub for cutting-edge green technologies.

Dr. Sofia Mai presented the broader innovation ecosystem of the park, showcasing complementary systems implemented under the LIFE CIRCforBIO (LIFE18 CCM/GR/001180) and CRONUS Horizon Europe (Grant Agreement No. 101084405) projects. The keynote presentation by Maria Kasidoni provided a comprehensive overview of the LIFE CO₂toCH₄ project, its objectives, technological approach, and expected impact on sustainable energy production.

Participants also took part in guided tours of the park’s facilities—exploring the transition from historical industrial infrastructure to modern innovation spaces—and visited the CO₂-to-CH₄ biomethanation and biorefinery units, where the system’s design, operation, and environmental benefits were explained in detail.

Overall, the first Living Lab set a strong foundation for the upcoming events, fostering dialogue, knowledge exchange, and public engagement around CO₂ utilization and biomethane production. The active participation and positive feedback confirmed the value of Living Labs as a platform for shaping future clean energy solutions.