Sewage Treatment Works (STW) of 2030 should look like. In the report MWH identified how STW’s could generate surplus energy by 2030 and that the way ahead lay with three new design concepts – for Energy, Nutrient and Water Factories. These will recover valuable resources from sewage waste delivering sustainability and energy reductions of around 40% across the asset base.


The first of these concepts to be developed is the Energy Factory, with 13 of the 26 water authorities in the Netherlands now completing feasibility studies. By upgrading existing STWs, these studies show that energy-neutral, and even energy-generating STWs, are technologically possible. By minimising energy consumption through process optimisations on the one hand, and by maximising energy production through enhanced digestion on the other, huge efficiencies can be made. Enhanced primary sedimentation through the addition of chemicals appears to be the key to become almost energy neutral. Thermal hydrolysis of waste activated sludge is an additional measure to eventually become energy producing.


Continuous innovation


and energy reduction These concepts are taking off in the Netherlands because the Dutch wastewater authorities need to continuously innovate to manage rising energy prices and energy efficiency agreements with their government. They have committed to a two per cent reduction in energy usage, year on year, until 2030. And this in turn has created the impetus for the industry to rebrand and reformulate their wastewater treatment plants as Energy Factories.


The re-brand has been achieved by collaboration across water companies and between the water and waste sectors. Currently this doesn’t happen in the UK or only on a very limited scale. To a large degree this is because of restrictions and legislative barriers which prevent the UK industry taking a holistic view of how the future might work. If these barriers were removed the UK industry could easily emulate the approach being taken in the Netherlands.


A long term view leading to full lifecycle


efficiencies The Dutch also have the benefit of taking the long term view. They are focusing medium term on finding energy neutral solutions and longer term on how they can create the processes to fulfil their legislated requirements. This has driven innovation and new ways of thinking such as the re-branding in order to future proof their industry. In contrast, the UK is severely restricted by its five year investment cycles with only a set amount of money. If the restraints of five year planning were removed then we could start to make changes and increase our power consumption and / or generation from these types of sites in the UK. Long term planning also leads to full lifecycle efficiencies as there are no ‘stranded assets’ and benefits can be accrued over 30 years. In the UK, our five year investment cycle is a very short term and can lead to stranded assets and lost opportunities. Over 30 years you can look strategically at your asset base and look for radical solutions.


Strategic R&D The Dutch are not afraid to trial things and if it doesn’t work, well then it


doesn’t work and they move on to the next thing. In the UK this kind of investment is seen as capital outlay which must generate a return. This makes us quite reserved in terms of R&D into new technologies and in practice


|94| ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE


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