Project REvAR aims for energy and clean water from sewage

REvAR (Renewable Energy via Aqueous-phase Reforming) involves extracting energy from the waste produced during sewage and water treatment and transforming it into hydrogen and/or methane. The aim is to create sustainable and cost-efficiently run wastewater processes, plus extra energy.

In collaboration with Costain and ICMEA-UK Limited, REvAR will combine the use of hot-pressurised water or hydrothermal conditions with catalysts to achieve high conversion efficiency. According to Aston, the technique can treat sewage sludge in minutes, and it is hoped that it will replace existing processes.

The two-stage process will involve the initial transformation of organic components in the sludge into liquid intermediates, which will then be converted to the fuel gases in a second stage.

Dr Jude Onwudili based at Aston University’s Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) is leading the team of scientists who will work with the partners to develop a trial rig to transform solid residues from wastewater treatment plants.

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In a statement, Dr Onwudili said: “This project is important because millions of tonnes of sewage sludge are generated in the UK each year and the water industry is struggling with how to effectively manage them as waste. 

“Instead, they can be converted into valuable feedstocks which are used for producing renewable fuel gases, thereby increasing the availability of feedstocks to meet UK decarbonisation targets through bioenergy.

“We will be taking a waste product and recovering two important products from it: clean water and renewable energy. Overall, the novel technology will contribute towards meeting UK Net Zero obligations by 2050 and ties in with the University’s purpose to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation.”

The Aston initiative was one of ten winners of Ofwat’s Water Discovery Challenge.

Helen Campbell, senior director for sector performance at Ofwat, said: “This competition was about reaching new innovators from outside the sector with different approaches and new ideas, and that’s exactly what the winners are doing. 

“The products and ideas recognised in this cross-sector challenge will equip water companies to better face challenges of the future – including achieving sustainability goals and meeting net zero targets – all while providing the highest-quality product for consumers.”