Hitachi Zosen Inova to increase Swiss plant’s output by “more than 15%”

The Solothurn-Emme wastewater region association has commissioned Hitachi Zosen Inova to retrofit its membrane plant in Zuchwil, Switzerland. The move will increase plant output by more than 15% in order to meet current requirements, and will mean fewer membrame modules.
Since 2015, the Solothurn-Emme Wastewater Region Association (ZASE) has been operating a gas treatment plant from Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) on the site of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Zuchwil.
This plant processes the digester gas produced in the digester by bacterial decomposition of the sewage sludge into biomethane, which is fed into the grid of Regio Energie Solothurn as methane from renewable sources.
Now, ZASE has commissioned the Zurich-based green tech company with the future-oriented conversion of the plant, which will enable an increase in output.
More capacity despite reduced modules
The catchment area of ZASE comprises 40 municipalities from the cantons of Solothurn and Bern. By acquiring a new major customer, the amount of wastewater processed by WWTP has increased significantly – and with it the production of digester gas from sewage sludge utilisation.
In order to make maximum use of the energy contained therein, HZI is increasing the capacity of the existing biomethane plant with new membrane modules, the replacement of the chiller and main compressor as well as the modification of the control system.
The previous, second-generation membrane modules will be completely replaced by modules of the same size of the new, highly efficient generation.
Although fewer modules will be used, HZI said the system output can be increased to approximately 300 Nm³/h. This will be accompanied by the replacement of the chiller and the main compressor with new, more powerful models and the adaptation of the system control system in line with this increase in capacity.
"With the retrofit of our plant, we can use our resources more efficiently and generate more energy for the region," said operations manager Marco Imbach.
"Since some of the module slots are now free, we also have the opportunity for a further increase in capacity in the future."
"We are very pleased about this renewed vote of confidence from ZASE in our expertise and technology," said Dr. Benoît Boulinguiez, managing director of the HZI site in Zeven, northern Germany, which manufactures HZI Group's gas processing plants.
"In addition to the expansion of renewable energies for global decarbonisation and a secure energy supply without fossil fuels, the best possible, long-term use of existing plants is also an important contribution to the success of the energy transition."