Vienna relies on circular economy: Phosphorus made of sewage sludge!
Vienna relies on circular economy: Phosphorus made of sewage sludge!
In Vienna, a remarkable project for the recovery of a valuable raw material from sewage sludge is launched. Vienna Energie's new drying system in Simmering, which was officially opened on Monday, has the potential to extract phosphorus from waste. This element plays a crucial role as a fertilizer for agriculture and has so far been imported mainly, including from the controversial area in Western Sahara.
The concept is simple, but effective: waste that initially ends up in sewage treatment plants contain valuable resources that can be used. The sewage sludge, which consists of 96 percent of water, is dried first. So there is a crumbly mass that contains only 10 percent water and can therefore be burned more efficiently instead of landing on landfills.
not just garbage, but a recycling material
The climate city council Jürgen Czernohorszky (SPÖ) and the City Councilor Peter Hanke (SPÖ) emphasized the importance of this project. "Nothing is thrown away," emphasized Czernohorszky and pointed out that Vienna is in the European pioneering role with this facility. Only Hamburg is one step further in phosphorrele.
The project provides for up to 3200 tons of phosphorus to win every year, which could be sufficient to meet the needs of the Viennese and Lower Austrian population. However, an important step is still required: the planned phosphorus recycling system, the tender of which is expected in two years at the earliest. From 2033, the recovery of phosphorus is mandatory by the new waste incineration regulation for municipal sewage treatment plants.
Another interesting aspect of this initiative is intelligent energy generation. The green gas, which arises during the fermentation of the sewage sludge, has been used for electricity production since 2020. This sustainable energy supply not only supports wastewater treatment, but can also be fed into the power grid.
In addition, a large -scale heat pump has been operated since 2023, which now supplies 56,000 households with district heating, with the aim of doubleing the capacity by 2027. Karl Gruber, Managing Director of Vienna Energie, emphasized that phosphorus recovery was an important step in the direction of a sustainable circular economy. With this approach, Vienna can not only reduce the dependence on raw material imports, but also make a contribution to reducing waste and secure resources for future generations.The concept of this system is a perfect example of circular economy. Instead of simply disposing of waste, their value is recognized and used. With its innovative approach, the Vienna drying system could not only support local agriculture, but also have a lasting influence on resource use in the entire region.
If you want to learn more about the details of this interesting project, you can do this read here .
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