Due to the high energy demand and the coherent operating costs, wastewater treatment plants are very suitable sites for decentralized energy production by wind turbines or solar panels. The energy production on top of the own energy demand may be used for the production of hydrogen with regard to energy storage. According to this method, wastewater treatment plants might contribute as a decentralized energy supplier to the future energy infrastructure.
In the Smart.NET project, this approach should be investigated for the wastewater treatment plant in Bottrop. For instance the following components are considered:
- the further energetic utilizations of sewage sludge and sewage gas
- the implementation of wind turbines
- the advantages of a solar-supported sewage sludge drying facility
The centerpiece of the project will be the control and automation concept that combines the different components and links them energetically. The final system should enable an efficient grid operation. On behalf of the Emschergenossenschaft, a project-specific modelling and simulation software will be developed at ifak, based on SIMBA#. Beyond that, ifak will be involved in the development of the automation concept.