Framtidens avloppsvattenreningsverk – en modern energiproducent : En fallstudie av Himmerfjärdsverket

Sammanfattning: In a sustainable society the use of renewable energy and recycling of materials is of high importance. Wastewater treatment plants use large amounts of energy in the processing of wastewater. This study seeks to evaluate wastewater as an energy resource and to examine treatment plants potential to become sustainable energy producers. The study is based upon the internal processes of Himmerfjärdsverket. Wastewater has a high content of heat energy because of its origin from households and industries. It also holds high concentrations of chemically bound energy as organic compounds and nutrients. The flow of chemically bound energy at Himmerfjärdsverket corresponds to a power of 15 MW. During the treatment processes sludge is separated from the wastewater. The sludge can be used for biogas production by anaerobic digestion. At Himmerfjärdsverket, 8 million m3 of biogas are produced every year. The reminder from the biogas production can be used as fertilizer in the farming industry. 56 % of the biogas is sold as fuel and the remaining gas is used for internal processes. Himmerfjärdsverket could reduce its energy need for heating by half by installing a heat pump system. This would lead to annual savings of two million SEK. The conclusion is that modern wastewater treatment plants have the potential to become an important part of the next generation’s renewable energy system.