The document discusses how wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge is being transformed from a waste to a resource through innovative technologies and business models. It provides five examples of WWTPs that have adopted these new paradigms: 1) Using technologies like thermal hydrolysis in France to reduce sludge volumes and recover energy. 2) Combining WWTP sludge and organic waste in Denmark to produce biogas and fertilizer. 3) Optimizing biogas production in France for grid injection. 4) A new business model in France where sludge and other waste are treated for double recovery. 5) An incineration plant in Hong Kong that ensures energy recovery from sludge while integrating with the local community.

1. WATER INNOVATION: BRIDGING GAPS,
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
27 AND 28 SEPTEMBER 2017
ALFÂNDEGA PORTO CONGRESS CENTRE
THE GOOD OLD SEWAGE WORKS IS NOW YOUR
COMMUNITY RESOURCE FACTORY
TAKE LILLE, FOR EXAMPLE
ERIC NESME
VEOLIA

2. Paradigm Shift:
WWTP Sludge from a Waste to a Resource
The good old sewage works is now your community
resource factory

3. 3Porto Water Innovation week
Circular
Economy
 New (r)evolution for water and wastewater management
A paradigm shift for WWTP sludge
Wastewater sludge
is not anymore a WASTE
BUT A RESOURCE
Adapted from Water Environment Federation
Low carbon
economy
Digital
economy

4. WWTP sludge challenges and opportunities
4
Sludge Treatment
Design & Build,
Operation,
Merchant plant, …
Periodic services
Porto Water Innovation week
Sludge equipment is about 45% of
the global wastewater equipment
≈ 280 M ton of sludge
produced in Portugal
Sludge Disposal
Management
Turning Waste into Resources

5. 5Porto Water Innovation week
Sludge management is local and specific
 Some market drivers to chose the best solution for sludge management
MARKET INCENTIVEREGULATION
Composting
Land spreading
Landfill
Attractive market price
for:
- Energy (Electrical and
biogas feed-in tariffs)
- Phosphorus
- Nitrogen
- Need for
soil amendment
ENVIRONMENTAL
& SOCIAL
INTEGRATION

6. 1 - Technologies adapted to local objectives
France, Marquette-lez-Lille WWTP
6Porto Water Innovation week
Key figures:
620,000 p.e. capacity
4.8GWh produced each year by treating
sludge
Volume of sludge reduced through:
Digestion
EXELYS® Thermal Hydrolysis
BIOCO® Drying Process
Water reuse on site:
Compact Nanofiltration unit
 Sludge volume reduction
 Energy recovery
 30% more biogas produced
thanks to EXELYS® process

7. 2 – Combination of WWTP sludge and organic waste
Denmark, Billund BioRefinery
7Porto Water Innovation week
 Biogas from WWTP sludge and
biowaste
to supply heat and electricity
Key figures :
Wastewater: 70,000 p.e.
Organic waste: 4,200 tons
Energy production: 12 GWh per year
Biofertilizer production
Technologies:
EXELYS® Thermal Hydrolysis
Hydrotech® Discfilter
An example of the circular economy:
Wastewater Plant of the Future

8. 8Porto Water Innovation week
3 – Produce biogas with injection into the grid
France, Cagnes-sur-Mer WWTP
 Biogas production optimized
 Drastic energy consumption
reduction
 > energy produced than consumed
A POSITIVE
ENERGY BALANCE
Electricity
consumption
=
8,7
GWh/year
Bio-methane
production
=
10,5 GWh/year
Electrical energy
consumption Bio-methane
production

9. 9Porto Water Innovation week
4 – Innovation in the business model
France, Artois Méthanisation
 25,000 t of waste treated per year
 Organic waste double recovery:
agronomic and energetic
Key figures :
Electricity production: eq. of 2,700 households
2,000 tons of CO2 avoided
Waste treated:
Agriculture waste
Wastewater biological sludge
Local authorities waste
Other organic waste
An example of the circular economy: a
facility designed, built and owned by Veolia

10. 10Porto Water Innovation week
5 - Environmental integration and energy recovery
Hong-Kong, T-Park sludge incineration
 Largest sludge treatment plant in
the world
 Ensure the energy recovery of
sewage sludge from a 7,2
millions inhabitants area
Key figures :
Sludge coming from 11 WWTP Capacity: up
to 2,000 tons in year 2030
Integration in the social life
Heat recovery and power generation
system
Water autonomy & zero-wastewater
discharge

11. 11Porto Water Innovation week
Conclusion - Sludge from a Waste to a Resource
 Turning sludge from a waste to a resource is a technological challenge
 It needs to optimize the overall economical equation (Capex + Opex)
 A comprehensive understanding of the overall sludge management and
financial data is essential
To keep in mind:
WWTP sludge valorization is one lever
only to value waste in a territory (biowaste, …)

12. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION