Solar Sludge Recycling

Purpose and goal:

Solar Sludge Recycling aim to evaluate the possibilities of using concentrated solar thermal energy in the process of drying sewage sludge, in order to refine something that is otherwise often seen as waste into a new raw material that can be used as biofuel. In addition to sludge drying, a major focus for the project is also to be able to utilize the phosphorus in the ash to create circular waste streams.

This is done by chemical recycling of the ash where both phosphorus as well as other waste streams are recycled. The project delivered a proposal to Horizon EU which was the primary goal Expected results and effects:

This project is a planning project to increase Swedish participation in Horisont Europa and the main delivery goal is to write and submit a proposal to the European call HORIZON-CL4-2022-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-10. It involves building a real scale demonstrator for drying sewage sludge with the help of concentrated solar thermal energy in order to create circular waste flows. The project delivered a proposal to the EU call within the set deadline and met the primary goal of the planning project.

Approach and implementation:

Absolicon Solar Collector AB has a coordinating role of the project and will ensure delivery of both objective and sub-goals. Other project partners are Hydropress HUBER AB who is a manufacturer and expert on sludge drying equipment and processes related to this. Furthermore, Njudung Energi Vetlanda AB, which has previous experience of sludge management, is responsible for the operation of the planned demonstration facility.

The project started with a joint review of the European call and a feasibility study to finally produce a report and delivered an application Horizon EU