How to decrease the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment?

How to decrease the carbon footprint of
wastewater treatment?
David J. I. Gustavsson (VA SYD) and Susanne Tumlin (Gryaab)
IWA Conference: European Utility Management May 14-16, 2014, Oslo
IPCC (2013)
Swedish consumption
Emissions in other countries
Emissions in Sweden
-1
CO2e (million tonnes year )
200
180
160
11% increase of CO2e emissions
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Swedish EPA (2013)
What is a carbon footprint?
A ‘carbon footprint’ measures the total
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
caused directly and indirectly by a
person, organisation, event or product.
It has units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon
dioxide equvivalents (CO2e).
System boundary
System boundary
System boundary
System boundary
Excel tool developed
http://www.svensktvatten.se/FoU/SVU/Rapporter/Avlopp-Miljo/
Today
A Swede
WWTP
12 t CO2e
50 kg CO2e
Car
2030
Meat
Housing
Flights
Consumption
A Swede
WWTP
1 t CO2e
50 kg CO2e
Fract
20
0
Results
-20
-40
120
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
7-108 kg CO2e P.E.-1 year-1
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Carbon footprint
-1
-1
(kg CO2e P.E. year )
100
80
60
40
20
0
WWTP
Gustavsson & Tumlin (2013)
How to decrease the carbon footprint of
wastewater treatment?
David J. I. Gustavsson (VA SYD) and Susanne Tumlin (Gryaab)
IWA Conference: European Utility Management May 14-16, 2014, Oslo
Most important contributions to the
carbon footprint (+/-)
Direct emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and
methane (CH4) from WWTP
Biogas usage
Biosolids handling
Energy usage
Plant nutrients
Heat pump
Fossil based C source
The COD in the wastewater is 100% biogenic (IPCC, 2006)
Nitrification-denitrification – the main source of N2O
How to detect N2O?
Mønster et al. (2014)
Anammox is not producing N2O
Closed CH4 handling system important
Mønster et al. (2014)
Increase biogas production
Kanders et al. (2013)
Increase biogas production
Fe3+
COD
Nitrogen
WWF
HLAS
Fe2+
PS
ST
HLAS
MeOH
MBBR
PAC
DAF
NTF
Fe2+
PS
ST
HLAS
GT
BGT
PE
SBR
AD
PE
CF
MBBR
NaOH
Sjölunda WWTP, Malmö
Biogas usage
CH4
Energy self-sufficiency is preferred
Aeration is very energy demanding
Minimise
hydrolysis
COD
Maximise
adsorption
Aeration
control
Nitrite shunt
Maximise
assimilation
NH4+
Anammox
External energy
Generate your own renewable energy: solar, wind and water power,
or at least buy renewable energy
Heat pumps on WWTP effluent
COP > 4.0
External carbon source
Methanol
Available and”cheap”
But mostly produced
from natural gas
Alternatives
Renewable carbon source
Sludge hydrolysis
Denitrifying PAOs
Nitritation-anammox
Nitritation-anammox (deammonification)
Theoretical savings
-57% oxygen
-86% organic carbon
Competition
NOB
HB
HNO2
Intermittent
aeration
NO2-
COD
NH4+
O2
T
NH3
Continouos
inoculum
HCO3SRT
AOB
Biofilm
Anammox
Manammox pilot at Sjölunda WWTP
Nutrient recovery –
the future = source separation
Introduction of urine separation in Malmö, Sweden – a concept of
nutrient recovery and cadmium wash-out
Gustavsson & la Cour Jansen (2014)
Nutrient recovery –
the future = source separation
40% less GWP impact from source-separating systems than from
conventional wastewater treatment
Spångberg et al. (2014)
Inside or outside the fence?
Communication to the citizens
Communicate the real problems –
hot water and meat consumption!
Inside or outside the fence?
Hot water consumption
Primary energy usage in the society
W/person
Western countries
>5000
Traffic
>1000
Food (Western countries)
~115
Wastewater treatment
3-15
Goal
2000
Wastewater
BOD
23
(1.6% of goal)
Nitrogen
6
(0.3% of goal)
Phosphorus
0.8
(0.04% of goal)
Heat
110
(5.5% of goal)
Hofman et al. (2011), Maurer et al. (2006), Rittmann (2013), Svardal & Kroiss (2011)
Inside or outside the fence?
Meat consumption
Tumlin & Mattsson (2013)
Inside or outside the fence?
Nitrogen load/person is increasing
20
18
16
-1
g N person d
-1
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Tumlin & Mattsson (2013)
How to decrease the carbon footprint of
wastewater treatment?
• Try to estimate your direct N2O and CH4 emissions, and try
to prevent these emissions
• Buy or produce your own renewable energy
• Increase biogas production, and use it in a smart way
• Avoid fossil carbon source
• Implement the anammox process
• Go for source-separating systems
Conclusions
Do you take the train
to Lisbon?
Thank you for your attention!
David J. I. Gustavsson
[email protected]
@DrKolfot
#IWAEUC2014
waterenergyclimate.blogspot.se
Susanne Tumlin
[email protected]
How does wastewater contribute?
The COD in the wastewater is 100% biogenic (IPCC, 2006)
Recovery of energy
Chemical energy - ~ 14 MJ/kg COD
Thermal energy – 4.2 MJ/(m3*degree C)
Potential energy – 9.8 kJ/(m3*m)
Kinetic energy – 0.18 kJ/m3 (0.6 m/s)
Nutrient recovery
Water reuse
Cellulose reuse