New drying system in Simmering ensures phosphorus recovery for agriculture

New drying system in Simmering ensures phosphorus recovery for agriculture

In Simmering, the largest energy supplier in Vienna, Vienna Energie, puts a new drying system for sewage sludge into operation. This innovative solution aims to enable the recovery of phosphorus, an important raw material that is used as a fertilizer, especially in agriculture. Wide dirty substances are filtered out in the nearby Viennese sewage treatment plant and the subsequent sewage sludge is thermally recycled. In this process, harmful substances are broken down, and phosphorus can be extracted from the remaining ash.

The drying system is a crucial step because sewage sludge is 96 percent of water. For efficient combustion, without the addition of substances that could affect the phosphorus, the material must first be dried. This infrastructural measure is particularly relevant, since from 2033 there is a legal obligation to recover phosphorus for municipal wastewater treatment plants.

projects for phosphorrele recruitment

Currently in cooperation with an industrial partner, pilot projects are carried out for recovery. Vienna Energie is also considering building its own recycling system. In the final expansion, this system could be able to cover the phosphorus requirement for the food production of the entire population of Vienna and Lower Austria. The managing director of Vienna Energie, Karl Gruber, explains: "By closing the fertilizer/phosphorus cycle in the future, we protect the natural occurrences and also become independent of phosphorus imports." This shows the commitment of Vienna Energy to promote environmental and climate protection.

The focus on sustainability is also underlined by City Councilor Peter Hanke (SPÖ), which emphasizes that Vienna not only when it comes to energy generation on recycling. Environmental city councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky (SPÖ) also emphasizes that the sewage treatment plant uses the green gas energy generated during the fermentation for eco-energy generation and even produces more energy than it requires for wastewater treatment. With the new phosphorus recycling, another step towards a circular economy is taken.

phosphorus is a critical raw material that is indispensable for growth and building living cells. In agriculture, the use of phosphorders enables a significant increase in yields, especially since the 20th century. The EU considers raw phosphate as a critical asset, since most of these resources are imported from third countries, and environmental pollution should also not be neglected during the extraction.

The system in Simmering is one of four waste incineration plants that are operated by Vienna Energy. Every year, around 225,000 tons of sewage sludge and 100,000 tons of household waste and 110,000 tons of commercial and industrial waste are thermally recycled. These sustainable measures are part of Vienna's strategy to reduce the dependence on external raw materials and at the same time reduce environmental pollution.

For more information on the underlying developments and plans, it is advisable to report on www.w24.at to consult.