Australian sewage plant to add biogas handling system
Melbourne Water will install a sludge digestion and biogas handling system at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee, Victoria.
The company announced a major package of works to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ensure the continued reliability of Melbourne’s sewer network.
Four projects, known as the WTP Bundle, will improve operations at the site, including a new treatment plant; a sludge thickening system; the relocation and enhancement of the existing food waste receival and treatment facility, and a sludge digestion and biogas handling system.
The Western Treatment Plant currently treats approximately 530 megalitres (one megalitre is equal to one million litres) of sewage annually in a lagoon-based system. The WTP Bundle will reduce the Western Treatment Plant’s generation of GHGs by improving the site’s solids treatment capacity. It is expected this will reduce annual GHG emissions by approximately 70,000 tonnes per year.
The new sludge digestion and biogas handling system will heat and convert a portion of all the collected sludges to create biogas for power generation. The remaining digested sludge will then be sent for drying to condition it for commercial re-use.
Melbourne Water’s package of works is currently in the planning and design stage. Works are planned to start in late 2022 and will be completed by mid-2026.
The company announced a major package of works to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ensure the continued reliability of Melbourne’s sewer network.
Four projects, known as the WTP Bundle, will improve operations at the site, including a new treatment plant; a sludge thickening system; the relocation and enhancement of the existing food waste receival and treatment facility, and a sludge digestion and biogas handling system.
The Western Treatment Plant currently treats approximately 530 megalitres (one megalitre is equal to one million litres) of sewage annually in a lagoon-based system. The WTP Bundle will reduce the Western Treatment Plant’s generation of GHGs by improving the site’s solids treatment capacity. It is expected this will reduce annual GHG emissions by approximately 70,000 tonnes per year.
The new sludge digestion and biogas handling system will heat and convert a portion of all the collected sludges to create biogas for power generation. The remaining digested sludge will then be sent for drying to condition it for commercial re-use.
Melbourne Water’s package of works is currently in the planning and design stage. Works are planned to start in late 2022 and will be completed by mid-2026.
