Post by Cambi

Sludge is increasingly being recognised for its energy potential, both through biogas production and as a feedstock for energy recovery technologies. In this paper, Dr Bill Barber explores how changing priorities, including rising energy costs, carbon reduction targets, sustainability goals, and nutrient recovery, are driving new approaches to sludge treatment. The piece examines a range of treatment and energy recovery pathways, including: 🔹 Advanced anaerobic digestion and biomethane production 🔹 Co-firing with coal in power stations 🔹 Dedicated sludge incineration with energy recovery 🔹 Wet Air Oxidation (WAO) and Supercritical Wet Air Oxidation (SCWAO) as alternative thermal treatment routes Some key takeaways: sludge contains significant embedded energy. Typical European sludge, for example, contains around 17,500 kJ/kg dry solids, comparable to lignite and higher than many municipal waste streams. Recovering phosphorus from sludge is also becoming increasingly important as global reserves face long-term pressure. A thought-provoking read on how the water sector can unlock greater value from sludge while reducing environmental impact. 📄 Read the full paper here https://lnkd.in/enPZQGpt #Wastewater #ResourceRecovery #CircularEconomy #Cambi