Projects

Sludge-to-Energy Ajman

Client:
BESIX Middle East - ASPCL

Location:
Ajman - UAE

Date:
2021

Specificatie:

Thermophilic sludge digestion: 14.700 m³

Treatment capacity: 46 tonnes of dry matter/day

Biogas production: > 4 million Nm³/year

Tags:

Thermophilic sludge digestion

Biogas

BESIX Middle East, part of the Belgium-based BESIX Group, realized the facility for Ajman Sewerage (Pvt) Co. Ltd (ASPCL), utilizing Colsen's technology to transform sewage sludge into sustainable energy. As the first facility of its kind in the UAE, the project includes two power generators with a combined capacity of 2.4 MWe, allowing for the on-site production of green energy covering up to 50 percent of the electricity consumption of the ASPCL wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Al Jurf. Colsen supplied the design, engineering, and DIGESTMIX^® technology for this landmark project, which sets a new standard for sustainable energy in the UAE.

Technologies

Thermophilic digestion

Sludge digestion is the key process component for increasing Ajman STP's sustainability as well as independancy for external utilities. This STP has two operational digestion tanks, adding up to a total of 14,700 m³. These digesters are set up for thermophilic digestion, a method that guarantees extensive decomposition of organic dry matter and increased biogas production. The digesters are operated at a temperature of 52-55°C. Proper mixing and heating are of crucial importance, which is why both tanks are equipped with 4 DIGESTMIX^® systems each. By Colsen's design and application of the DIGESTMIX^® sludge degradation could be maximized. Without the feed of any primary sludge to the digesters, the sludge degradation could be maximized to over 50%, VSS based.

Biogas production

About 6,800 Nm³ methane is produced on a daily base. The produced biogas is conditioned and used on two power generators with a combined capacity of 2.4MWe.