Testbed Ellinge - drying, pyrolysis and refinery of sewage sludge

Purpose and goal:

The purpose of Testbädd Ellinge is to create a basis for Swedish sewage works path choice for sustainable sludge management and disposal. The main goals of the test bed are to:

- Obtain operating experiences and optimise operating conditions for drying and pyrolysis of different types of sewage sludge - Create new, better market-adapted fertiliser products from sewage sludge. - Create an innovation platform for future, alternative sludge management. Expected results and effects:

The project is expected to result in that relatively unexplored alternatives for sewage sludge management and plant nutrient recycling are elucidated so that water service companies can invest in technologies without performing own pilot studies. In addition to effects at the system level regarding the infrastructure for sludge management, new non-toxic plant nutrient products adapted to current and future agriculture can reduce imports of mineral fertilisers and make Sweden more self-sustaining of resources required for sustainable and more self-sufficient food production.

Approach and implementation:

Four water service companies are collaborating to run a test bed at Ellinge sewage treatment plant in Eslöv. The project consists of three parts; design and establishment, test bed operation and a final synthesis. Test bed operation includes four different parts: operation of sludge dryer and pyrolysis, attraction of testers, development of business models for processes and products, and system analysis of the entire chain from infrastructure to final use of the products.

Finally, a synthesis is performed that describes what the test bed has achieved, and how the test bed can live on.