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Energy-efficient wastewater treatment

The amount of energy consumed in wastewater treatment plants across the world is estimated at 1-3% of global energy output. Modern utilities are consuming between 20 and 45 kWh per population equivalent connected. At the same time there is great untapped potential to generate energy from waste. Read on to learn how wastewater treatment plants can tackle increasing energy prices, scarcity of resources, and tightening regulations, while maintaining stable and future-proof operations.

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How to reduce energy consumption in wastewater treatment

Learn how municipal wastewater treatment plants can use innovative technology to optimize energy-intensive processes.

Less is more

The most energy intensive part of wastewater treatment is the biological process. One way to tackle that problem is to feed the bacteria less by increasing the primary treatment load through digitally-enabled optimization. Settling more primary solids in the primary treatment step reduces the load for the aeration process. That lowers overall energy consumption, leaving the easily degradable COD for biology, which can also increase biogas production.

Sludge treatment and phosphorus removal are other areas with great potential for energy savings. A powerful combination of chemistry, data analytics and automated chemical dosing optimizes process efficiency – also in highly variable conditions.

Solutions to energy challenges

Case studyWaterWater

Finnish wastewater treatment plant ups capacity with online analytics

Increasing the capacity of a wastewater treatment plant is an expensive choice. So what do overloaded plants do? Look for efficiencies first. Learn how we helped the Finnish city of Joensuu unlock capacity and improve their sustainability by predicting surges in volume and stabilizing their processes with Kemira KemConnect™ PT.
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Case studyWaterWater

Maximizing biogas production from household waste

Tekniska verken is a utility provider for one of the world’s most resource-efficient regions – the Swedish city of Linköping and the surrounding area. Today they’re offering biogas to more customers than ever before thanks to Kemira’s chemistry and applications expertise.
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Jesper Berner, Kemira
ArticleWaterDigital services

Advanced water treatment: Examples from Copenhagen, Prague and Breda

At Kemira, we’re helping water utilities harness the power of data to reduce energy use, raw material consumption, and carbon intensity. Learn how major cities have collaborated with us to implement digital solutions for sustainable wastewater treatment.
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ArticleWaterWater

Energy use reduction in wastewater treatment

From climate change to eutrophication, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are adapting their operations in the face of environmental challenges. A recent Life Cycle Assessment suggests that the best way for wastewater treatment plants to improve their energy balance and overall sustainability is a tailored mix of chemical and biological treatment methods.
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ArticleWaterDigital services

Data-driven water treatment for energy gains

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) around the world are improving their energy efficiency thanks to innovative new technologies. Lydia Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia, PhD, from the KWR Water Research Institute, explains how digitalization and data help WWTPs with energy balance.
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ArticleWaterDigital services

Digitally enabled primary wastewater treatment

How can water utilities comply with tightening regulations while reducing energy use, raw material consumption, and carbon intensity at the same time? Proven digital solutions are available to replace manual dosing and guesswork.
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How to optimize primary treatment with Kemira KemConnectTM PT

KemConnect™ PT is an automated solution to optimize the chemical wastewater pre-treatment process, enabling various downstream improvements. Watch the video for more information.

Joensuu implements data-driven primary wastewater treatment

Learn how we helped the Finnish city of Joensuu unlock capacity and improve their sustainability by predicting surges in volume and stabilizing their processes with KemConnect™ PT.

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