Description
The expected positive ecological effect of the project contributes to environmental protection through improvement of water and air quality as well as improvement of WWTP energy balance. It will be achieved by reducing nutrients loads, energy consumption and GHG emissions, together with onsite enhancing renewable energy sources utilization and economic efficiency of WWTPs. The aim of the project is a practical application of sustainable management by energy recovery and reduction of GHG emissions. It is expected that implementation of novel integrated technology will lead to a major reduction in consumption of natural and non-renewable resources. The results obtained in the experimental part of the project will be the basis for the energy balance and estimation of the GHG emissions. Guidelines concerning design and operation of the integrated treatment system will be helpful for designers and contractors. The intended outcomes will be institutional cooperation and exchange of information among the scientists and stakeholders as well as the knowledge transfer both between Polish and Norwegian researchers and researchers and authorities/heads of WWTPs.
Summary of project results
Wastewater treatment plants are energy-intensive and cost-intensive facilities. Additionally, increasing sludge production and greenhouse gas emissions are an emerging issue. A new paradigm for wastewater treatment calls not only for meeting stringent effluent quality standards but also for maximum energy recovery from wastewater, thereby promoting renewable energy sources. The aim of the project was to develop a novel sustainable technology that combines increased biogas production with enhanced nutrients removal in a sidestream treatment line. The chemically enhanced primary treatment was proposed to support anaerobic digestion process and biogas production. To prevent a plant from the potential organic carbon deficiency in a mainstream treatment line, the separate treatment in a sidestream line was applied. In the case of both single step and two-step partial nitritation/anammox processes, high efficiency of nitrogen removal was obtained. The effluent from those processes was subsequently treated with algae reactors and constructed wetlands. The microalgae biomass was also tested as a substrate for methane production. The upgraded plant incorporating the novel integrated technology was analysed, optimized and evaluated in the plant-wide computer model. The simulations revealed high potential for the increased biogas production in the anaerobic digester and reduction in the electric energy demand for aeration, while still maintaining the required total nitrogen effluent limit. The proposed upgrades improve the energy balance and may shift the energy deficit to the energy neutrality at the studied plant. The choice of the coagulant/flocculent was found as the main factor determining a positive cost balance. The energy recovery through biogas was found the most influential factor affecting indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It was found that the upgraded technologies can create the emission credit in a coal power plant. However, the direct on-site greenhouse gas emissions are more significant in the facilities which use renewable energy sources. The simulations proved and confirmed that the proposed novel technology is energy-efficient, cost-effective and limits GHG emissions. The project significantly strengthened the capacity and built competence of the involved researchers. The knowledge transfer and cooperation among the scientists and stakeholders was realized. The developed processes and concepts are directly usable in wastewater treatment processes.
Summary of bilateral results
In a series of the project work packages, the project partners worked together on the development of the novel integrated technology for wastewater treatment and sludge utilisation. The BARITECH project was an initiative between the Polish partners (Gdansk University of Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Silesian University of Technology) and Aquateam COWI AS as the Norwegian partner. Altogether, 15 researchers travelled within the project to 4 partners laboratories, exchanged their knowledge and experiences in order to develop state-of-the-art solutions for municipal wastewater treatment plants. The collaboration aimed not only at strengthening ties between the partners themselves but also to help forge links and knowledge exchange at a wider scale to be beneficial for the society of water professionals. The BARITECH project aimed at contribution to the development of the technologies which could be transformed into marketable results, opening new horizons for future cooperation and allow communication between academia and industry. The project significantly strengthened the capacity and built competences of the involved researchers, and established in this way a good base for further cooperation within other European or international programmes. Joint research and exchange of experiences allowed for development of effective collaboration and novel solutions which could be applied in both countries.