Biomass treatment
We turn a problem into a resource
Our new groundbreaking technology can dry sewage sludge and wet biomass using the calorific value in the biomass. This is done by our patent pending integrated steam drying and pyrolysis solution.
The pyrolysis process eliminates all microplastic, medicine residues and other harmful organic compounds turning the dried sludge into a hygienized, odor free, storage stable biochar and thermal energy.
With an integrated biomass treatment solution from AquaGreen, you protect the environment:
• No micro-pollutants in soil and ground water
• No malodor or health risks
• 10 x less transport
Meet your climate targets by saving Greenhouse Gas emissions, storing Carbon and producing energy.
With an integrated solution with the capacity of 5.000 tons of sewage sludge you reach the following:
• Total saved emissions: 1800 tons CO2e reduction
• Carbon storage in biochar: 500 tons CO2e storage
• 2000 MWh renewable energy produced: 1500 tons CO2e reduction
Safeguard your grandchildren’s food supply by recirculating Phosphorus to the soil:
• 25 tons life critical Phosphorus recirculated
The investment has an attractive pay-back time as the current sludge handling cost, will be converted into an income from selling renewable energy and biochar or activated carbon, and carbon removal credits.
The AquaGreen solution for sludge treatment includes our combined steam dryer and pyrolysis unit, which will Re-think your business, Re-duce your costs, Re-circulate valuable resources, and improve the Re-turn on your investment.
Our patent pending technology is divided into three separate process steps.
Sludge of 15-25% dry matter is dried up to >95% in an oxygen-free atmosphere of superheated steam. The surplus steam is condensed into a heat exchanger so that the thermal energy can be recovered and odour- and dust nuisance eliminated.
The dried sludge is heated to temperatures around 650° C in an oxygen-free atmosphere, whereby the organic pollutants of the sludge are degraded by the pyrolysis process.
The pyrolysis gas is combusted and turned into thermal energy. The energy can be utilised in your production facility, or it can be distributed as district heating. The main end product in form of biochar is stable, odourless and rich in re-circulated phosphorus. Thus, combining the steam drying and pyrolysis solution optimises the return on your investment.
AquaGreen's patent pending technology uses superheated steam to dry sludge. We have invented a state of the art solution. The result is a very cost efficient process in which we reduce the sludge volume and weight and hence the disposal costs. The steam dryer unit can be used as a stand-alone solution or in combination with our pyrolysis unit, which will further increase your return on investment.
Our developers and collaborators from the Danish Technical University (DTU) have more than 25 years of experience in using pyrolysis technology, all of which is transferred into the AquaGreen pyrolysis unit. The pyrolysis gas is combusted to produce thermal energy for the steam drying process, and re-circulated for district or on-site heating. Our pyrolysis solution can be used in combination with our steam dryer or as a stand-alone solution.
AquaGreen's solutions have a broad and versatile usage and can thus be used in various sludge generating industries. Below are a number of industries in which our solutions are typically applicable. Please contact us if you have any special requests.
The trend of growing the smolt bigger before they are moved from land to sea pushes the demand to reduce sludge volumes, to utilise the embedded energy, and to re-circulate valuable resources.
Our solution turns a problem into a resource for MWWT’s. Our solution is commercially viable and supports a transition towards circular economy by re-circulating resources, such as phosphorus.
Sludge, which does not require further processing, matches our combined solution perfectly. Disposal costs are reduced and the excess thermal energy can be re-circulated and utilised in production.
When utilising the AquaGreen solution, the brewery sludge volumes are reduced and turned into valuable biochar. Furthermore, the produced excess thermal energy can be re-circulated and utilised in production.
Livestock manure and other organic waste can be used for energy production, and the biomass can be turned into biochar with the AquaGreen steam dryer and pyrolysis solution.
Cruise ships, refugee camps, military camps and festivals all generate wastewater sludge, which poses a possible health risk. When implementing our solutions, this risk is eliminated, and the excess thermal energy can be utilised for e.g. heating.
"AquaGreen's solutions will create great value in both Norway and the rest of the world and will have a great customer base"
AquaGreen will sell 10 Steam Dryer and Pyrolysis plants to Danish wastewater treatment plants by summer 2022. An article in Danish CleanTechWatch today features a longer interv...
Nordic Alpha Partners' investment and expertise make AquaGreen ready for a growth journey within wastewater sludge and manure management. In Denmark alone we have more than one hu...
Solar Impulse foundation has started a mission to select 1000 solutions that address environmental challenges while enabling economic growth. We are proud to announce that the fou...
We are proud to announce a new agreement with Forsyningen Frederikshavn https://lnkd.in/dW9SdwP Last week we kicked off a pre-project together with Forsyningen Frederikshavn...
We are very proud to announce, that AquaGreen has been awarded the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label, and we are now part of a worldwide movement. The Solar Impulse organizat...
Odsherred City Council approved to expand Odsherred Forsyning with a combined sludge drying- and pyrolysis plant. AquaGreen’s plant recycles resources, reduces heavy metals...
In this article, in one of our local newspapers, our partner Odsherred Forsyning talks about the groundbreaking solution from AquaGreen. It is impressive and extremely giving to b...
After the finalization of the ongoing pre-investigation, Samsø Vedvarende Energi ApS, will be the third utility company in Denmark to implement AquaGreen...
One of our customers, the Danish Waste Water Treatment company “Odsherred Forsyning” has produced this video about sewage sludge and how AquaGreen turn the problem into a resou...
On Saturday, the Board of Directors of Odsherred Forsyning (Supply), decided to invest in a sludge management solution from AquaGreen. This is a very important milestone for AquaGr...
Recent article about AquaGreen at Clean's newsletter. The article is about our project that aims to eliminate NOx emissions from the burner and CTI funding that allows this. Ful...
AquaGreen, has together with Aarhus University, Roskilde University, DTU and Nordphos been awarded DKK 6.000.000+ from Miljø- og Fødevareministeriet to participate in a GUDP-proj...
Following article is availible in its full form here. AquaGreen – turning sludge into a sustainable resource By Mette Strægaard Emig DTU spinout Aqua...
Sustainable sludge drying, and pyrolysis solution for Municipal Waste Water. Since March 2017 AquaGreen has been working on the development and installation of a sustainable, comb...
Every year tons of the NOx pollutants (NO and NO2 compounds) are released in the air by human activities causing smog, lung problems and eutrophication). NOx comes mostly from the...
"I see a huge potential in AquaGreen and their sustainable sludge drying technology. No doubt that the timing is right for this type of technology within a large number of different Industries. Not only in Denmark, but also in a Global context"
AquaGreen is an engineering company within the Cleantech industry with a strong R&D background.
We develop new and innovative solutions in close collaboration with DTU - the Technical University of Denmark.
Our vision is to “lead the global transformation of processing and re-circulating resources from biomass into a financially sustainable business with high RoI for our customers”.
"Aquagreen's proposed solution will provide the exact solution that the Waste Water Industry has been asking for during the last many years"
Hi. Please contact us.
Risø Huse 50, Building 3
DK-4000 Roskilde.
+45 53 660 888
Or contact us via our contact form:
GUDP is a modern business support scheme that aims to address some of the key challenges facing the food industry and society as a whole. The challenges are to create greater sustainability and solve some of the climate and environmental problems facing society - while at the same time constantly improving the economy so that the food sector can continue to create growth and secure jobs in Denmark.
2019: “An interesting project, with a high news value, working with a new technology in the context of biorefining to make the grass refining plants economically sustainable. The project also has a relevant circle of participants.” says Søren Krogh Jensen, Senior Researcher at Aarhus University. The grant for the project can amount to a maximum of DKK 6,047,441, and lasts for 3 years from the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2022.
The Danish Environmental Technology Cluster works to strengthen the productivity and competitiveness of Danish environmental technology companies, especially by strengthening growth, employment and internationalization in Danish SMEs.
2019: The period of project participation, extends slightly over 2 years. Aquagreen received initial support of DKK 360,000 in 2019 and a further DKK 87,000 in 2021
The Eco-Innovation Program help companies to obtain public support for technological research and development projects. MUDP does this by translating projects into thorough applications improving the companies’ chances in competing for support.
2019: AquaGreen has in co-operation with Arhus Vand A/S and the Chemical Engineering Department at DTU been granted financial support for the development of a system for the production of activated carbon out of biochar from pyrolysis of municipal sewage sludge. The purpose of converting biochar into activated carbon is to use it as filter material in the cleaning process of waste water. The prototype is developed at DTU Campus Risø and tested at Aarhus Vand A/S, together with the activated carbon.
The project period is 36 months with a total allocation of 4.9 million DKK.
In February 2015, the Danish Parliament passed a law setting the framework for the Environmental Technology Development and Demonstration Program (MUDP). The purpose of the law is to promote the development and application of new effective environmental solutions to priority environmental challenges and at the same time support growth and employment.
2018: This project demonstrates future solutions for cost-effective and environmental sustainable solutions introducing recycling of residual sludge in new value chains from domestic wastewater treatment.
Promilleafgiftsfonden is a public funded foundation for the agricultural sector, with the purpose of supporting the development of new methods and technologies in the agricultural and food industry.
2018: AquaGreen was granted 105,000 DKK to help finish our comprehensive field-studies with biochar, that is performed by SEGES and The Danish Technological Institute.
The Environment and Energy Foundation supports new ideas and solutions on current energy or environmental problems.
2018: AquaGreen was granted 50,000 DKK to help finish our comprehensive field-studies with biochar, that is performed by SEGES and The Danish Technological Institute.
ViiRS is a regional govenrnment program that offers local businesses academic support from four universities in the region. The purpose with establishing this co-operation is to help create economic growth and new jobs in the region.
2018:
AquaGreen was granted funds to co-operate with researchers from the Chemical Engineering Department at DTU Campus Risø in the first half of 2018. The project was the development of an efficient swirl burner for our pyrolysis system.
The aim of the Market Development Fund is to promote growth, employment and export, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises in areas where Denmark has particular strengths and potential.
2017: DANVA and the Market Development Fund choose AquaGreen as their supplier in a public tender for Pre-Commercial Procurement.
AquaGreen provides a solution for drying sewage sludge by using superheated steam and subsequent conversion to biochar through pyrolysis. The biochar is analysed and tested as a potential phosphorus-rich fertiliser through chemical and biological laboratory test and analysis, and controlled cultivation tests.
The project runs over 24 months and has been allocated a total of 5.3 million DKK.
Innovation Fund Denmark invests in new knowledge and technology creating growth and employment in Denmark.
2016: AquaGreen has been granted financial support from Innobooster for the development of a second generation 10 kW electrical powered superheated steam dryer prototype for treatment of aquaculture sludge. The prototype development is taking place at DTU Campus Risø, and the test in a live production environment takes place at Smolten AS in Northern Norway.
The project runs over 10 months and has been allocated a total of 1.3 million DKK.
Eurostars is a joint program between EUREKA and the European Commission, which supports international innovative projects led by R&D performing small- and medium-sized entreprises. It is an ideal first step in international cooperation, enabling small businesses to combine and share expertise and benefits from working beyond national borders.
2016: AquaGreen has in a consortium with Melbu Systems AS, Akvaplan-niva AS and the Danish Technical University been granted financial support for the development of a combined solution for drying and pyrolysis of aquaculture sludge, from Eurostars under Horizon 2020. The purpose is to reduce sludge volumes substantially in an efficient process while using the high calorific value of the sludge as an energy source for the process.
The project period is 30 months with a total allocation of 8.9 million DKK.
As business developers, MUDP help companies to obtain public support for technological research and development projects. MUDP does this by translating projects into thorough applications improving the companies’ chances in competing for support.
2016: AquaGreen has in co-operation with VandCenter Syd A/S applied for and been granted financial support from MUDP for the development of 10 kW electrical superheated steam dryer for drying municipal sewage sludge. The prototype is developed and tested at DTU Campus Risø.
The project period is 13 months with a total allocation of 1.2 million DKK.
Danish Tech Challenge is for companies, newly established as well as more experienced, who have dedicated their work to developing successful businesses based on newly invented hardware solutions.
2015: AquaGreen is selected as one of 20 participants in the annual Danish Tech Challenge, out of more than 60 applying start-up companies.
Innovation Norway is the Norwegian Government's most important instrument for the development of Norwegian entreprises and industries. They support companies in developing their competitive advantage and in enhancing innovation.
2015: Innovation Norway funds a market pre-study which is needed in connection with preparing the application for Eurostars.
The Green Entrepreneurship House has created a leading development and growth environment for green entrepreneurs in Denmark. They have inspired, challenged and strengthened entrepreneurs' products and helped them develop in a sustainable environment.
2015: AquaGreen signs an agreement with the Green Entrepreneurial House at Scion-DTU for support and mentoring for a two-year period, where the Green Entrepreneurial House is to assist AquaGreen through the initial start-up challenges.
"With the new sludge treatment, we will get cleaner groundwater, healthier food and presumably a healthier soil. Shifting from traditional utilization of wastewater sludge to biochar will improve biodiversity. This can really make a difference"