Municipal wastewater treatment plants as part of smart energy systems

The aim of the project was to demonstrate the possible contribution of wastewater treatment plants as part of the intelligent energy system by making the load more flexible on the consumption side. The results show that wastewater treatment plants have units that can be considered for measures to shift loads.

In principle, almost all units in a wastewater treatment plant can be shut down for a period of 15 to 30 minutes. A detailed investigation of four example wastewater treatment plants has shown that the aeration of the biological stage, the agitators for circulating the aeration basins, the pumping stations as well as units for sludge treatment have the greatest potential for load shifting.

With regard to technical solutions to increase the load shifting potential, it can be stated that the installation of new mechanical equipment is not economically justifiable, whereas investments in measurement and control technology would be necessary.

In any case, it requires a market-based implementation and thus the development and introduction of new products, tariff models and services on the part of the electricity network operator or energy supplier.

• Nowak Abwasserberatung

• Final report