RENEWABLE ENERGY
A SELF-SUFFICIENT PLANT A
How plant manufacturer Weltec Biopower helped an Australian wastewater company become energy self sufficient
German plant manufacturer, Weltec Biopower, is helping Yarra Valley Water, one
of Australia‘s largest water and wastewater companies. refurbish its 1-megawatt biogas plant in the north of Melbourne. Since the completion of the waste and food waste plant by the plant manufacturer and its project partner in 2017, Yarra Valley Water’s Aurora Treatment Plant has been energy self-sufficient. In order to be able to operate the plant profitably long term, it has been undergoing a technical modernisation including a biological service planned for August. The output of the plant, which
has two 530-kilowatt CHP units, covers the energy requirements of the biogas operation. The electricity generated is able to power both the facility itself and the sewage treatment plant, while excess energy is exported to the electricity grid. The plant has a processing capacity of 33,000 tons of organic waste from food processors and restaurants to generate around 7,500,000 kilowatt hours of energy per year. Accepted waste includes fats, oils, brewery and
Yarra Valley Water is one of Australia’s largest water and wastewater companies
dairy residues, as well as fruit and vegetables which are fed into the stainless-steel containers.
PREPARATION FOR WORK At the start of the maintenance work, the tanks will first be completely emptied. In addition, the roofs of the two 3,573 cubic metre stainless steel fermenters and internal plant components such as the agitator technology will be replaced. The
The electricity generated is able to power the facility and the treatment plant
plant will then be commissioned and operational management will be secured. The digester contents will be temporarily stored in the storage tank and material can be filled back into the tanks after the refurbishment so the plant can be up and running quickly. This saves resources and costs. In addition, it is easier to restart the biological process when the fermented material is immediately available. Last but not least, the processes also comply with occupational safety requirements, which are a high priority in Australia; especially when emptying and filling the tanks. Weltec will also provide on- site staff training. Stephanie Salinas, manager waste-
to-energy services at YVW says of the operation: “Weltec Biopower has been a valued partner in our successful journey with the Wollert Facility. We value its commitment to safety and quality and have leveraged the company’s expertise in mechanical and biological consulting over the lifespan of our facility.”
For more information visit:
www.weltec-biopower.com
44
www.engineerlive.com
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