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Advanced Wastewater Treatment to Eliminate Organic Micropollutants in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Combination with Energy-Efficient Electrolysis at WWTP Mainz

Author

Listed:
  • Oliver Gretzschel

    (Institute Water Infrastructure Resources, University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 14, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany)

  • Michael Schäfer

    (Institute Water Infrastructure Resources, University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 14, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany)

  • Heidrun Steinmetz

    (Institute Water Infrastructure Resources, University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 14, D-67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany)

  • Erich Pick

    (Greenpeace Energy eG, Hongkongstraße 10, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Kim Kanitz

    (Greenpeace Energy eG, Hongkongstraße 10, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Stefan Krieger

    (Hydro-Ingenieure Energie & Wasser GmbH, Richard-Wagner-Straße 45, D-67655 Kaiserslautern, Germany)

Abstract

To achieve the Paris climate protection goals there is an urgent need for action in the energy sector. Innovative concepts in the fields of short-term flexibility, long-term energy storage and energy conversion are required to defossilize all sectors by 2040. Water management is already involved in this field with biogas production and power generation and partly with using flexibility options. However, further steps are possible. Additionally, from a water management perspective, the elimination of organic micropollutants (OMP) is increasingly important. In this feasibility study a concept is presented, reacting to energy surplus and deficits from the energy grid and thus providing the needed long-term storage in combination with the elimination of OMP in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The concept is based on the operation of an electrolyzer, driven by local power production on the plant (photovoltaic (PV), combined heat and power plant (CHP)-units) as well as renewable energy from the grid (to offer system service: automatic frequency restoration reserve (aFRR)), to produce hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is fed into the local gas grid and oxygen used for micropollutant removal via upgrading it to ozone. The feasibility of such a concept was examined for the WWTP in Mainz (Germany). It has been shown that despite partially unfavorable boundary conditions concerning renewable surplus energy in the grid, implementing electrolysis operated with regenerative energy in combination with micropollutant removal using ozonation and activated carbon filter is a reasonable and sustainable option for both, the climate and water protection.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver Gretzschel & Michael Schäfer & Heidrun Steinmetz & Erich Pick & Kim Kanitz & Stefan Krieger, 2020. "Advanced Wastewater Treatment to Eliminate Organic Micropollutants in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Combination with Energy-Efficient Electrolysis at WWTP Mainz," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-28, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:14:p:3599-:d:383783
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Blanco, Herib & Faaij, André, 2018. "A review at the role of storage in energy systems with a focus on Power to Gas and long-term storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 1049-1086.
    2. Valerie Eveloy & Tesfaldet Gebreegziabher, 2018. "A Review of Projected Power-to-Gas Deployment Scenarios," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-52, July.
    3. Parra, David & Zhang, Xiaojin & Bauer, Christian & Patel, Martin K., 2017. "An integrated techno-economic and life cycle environmental assessment of power-to-gas systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 440-454.
    4. Michael Schäfer & Oliver Gretzschel & Heidrun Steinmetz, 2020. "The Possible Roles of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Sector Coupling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, April.
    5. Thema, M. & Bauer, F. & Sterner, M., 2019. "Power-to-Gas: Electrolysis and methanation status review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 775-787.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zoltán Csedő & Botond Sinóros-Szabó & Máté Zavarkó, 2020. "Seasonal Energy Storage Potential Assessment of WWTPs with Power-to-Methane Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Elena Helerea & Marius D. Calin & Cristian Musuroi, 2023. "Water Energy Nexus and Energy Transition—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-31, February.

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