Climate protection and a sustainable energy supply have become more and more important in the water management sector. In 2009 hydropower covered more than 20 percent of Germany’s renewable energy supply. The whole sector’s potential could cover about six percent of the German electricity demand. These and other facts are part of the study “Energy potential of the German Water Management Sector”, compiled by the Aachen Engineering Company Tuttahs & Meyer on behalf of the German Association for Water, Wastewaterand Waste (DWA).

Currently, a significant energy potential is yet unused, as can be shown for the example hydropower: The most important measure to use hydro plants more efficiently is the renewal of the machine technology. An optimization of existing plants could increase the yield of electricity by 35 percent. The same with waste water treatment plants as the largest municipal energy consumers: Waste water treatment plants can contribute to meeting its own electricity demand by generating biogas from sludge. Moreover, combined heat and power plants for the processing of such gas offer the possibility to also make good use of waste heat. Energy savings and process optimization could reduce the electricity consumption of the plants by up to 25 percent.

Also sewers emit a large amount of heat that can be used with modern heat pump technology to heat buildings. Due to rising energy prices and technological progress, it has become economically interesting to make energetic use of the heat from wastewater. The DWA therefore develops training material and is planning to offer more seminars on the subject ‘Energy efficiency in sewage plants’ and `Waste heat from sewer networks’. A leaflet “Energy from wastewater” has already been published.


Project Operation
Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall (DWA) e. V.
Theodor-Heuss-Allee 17
53773 Hennef
Telefon 02242|8720
Telefon 02242|872135
info@dwa.de
www.dwa.de

Ref. 26089, 27587