Realizing the value in our waste — A bespoke resource recovery assessment for Thames Water

herent value contained within Wastewater, Biosolids and Other Organic Wastes (OOW) is being realized to varying degrees across the world. Atkins are currently engaged in the development of several Biosolids Strategies globally and recognize the opportunity to drive circularity, implement zero waste and zero carbon strategies from leveraging the potential to develop 'Bioresources Products' from wastewater and Biosolids. Markets for Bioresources Products, environments and technology readiness vary, thus understanding the specific drivers, opportunities, challenges, and constraints attributed to a specific client or region is key when devising the ideal combination of Bioresources Products. Atkins have recently completed a market assessment for Thames Water Utilities Limited (TWUL), the UK's largest water and wastewater services company and NEOM a city of the future in the North West of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Thames Water, commissioned Atkins to carry out a Bioresources Review and Market Study to support them in defining their future Bioresources business model. NEOM commissioned Atkins to develop a regional biosolids strategy, with a focus on resource recovery. The potential options for resource recovery from Biosolids and OOW are ever increasing as innovations in technology are enabling recovery and utilization (as outlined in Figure 1) and economic demands are developing. There is not a 'one size fits all' solution for how water utilities should exploit bioresources from wastewater and biosolids. The optimum approach is dependent on various local factors such as market maturity, the regulatory framework, and the environment in which the company resides, as well as internal strategic drivers and, to varying degrees the incentive mechanisms available. Atkins evaluated eighteen potential bioresources, ranging from well-known end products such as Ammonia and Biomethane to products from more emerging and embryonic processes such as Enzymes and Bio-ethanol. For each bioresource, key areas of interest were assessed: - Technical requirements were evaluated to understand the potential processes and associated complexity in comparison with current standard water industry operations. A review of technical readiness levels was also carried out for each bioresource & with particular focus on suitability for deployment in the water industry. - Compatibility of the bioresource recovery process required with standard wastewater treatment infrastructure and with recovery of a range of bioresources, as recovery of some bioresources will compliment and some will compete. - To identify bioresources with high value potential, an understanding of the potential scale of production and revenue potential was developed. - A UK focused market assessment for each bioresource was developed. A comprehensive report was produced to discuss each bioresource in depth, along with a summary slide pack that summarized the entire research findings, providing a broader perspective and delivering the essential messages to TWUL. Figure 2 shows an example of the summarized assessment carried out for enzyme recovery from biosolids. Figure 3 provides an extract of the final summary table which details the key findings and recommendations to TWUL based on the assessment. An example of some of the bioresources investigated are shown in Figure 3. In addition, to aid strategic decision-making, a bioresource compatibility assessment was carried out to understand relationships between the recovery of multiple products. There are many possible products that can be extracted/synthesized from wastewater and sewage sludge. However, due to the locations of the recovery technology within the standard Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) process and upstream/downstream implications, recovery of one product may have an adverse or incompatible relationship with the recovery of another product. Conversely, some products may be compatible in terms of resource recovery or even positively influence each other's recovery/synthesis. An assessment of product compatibility was undertaken and a summary of the bioresource compatibility assessment is shown in Figure 4. The results of the study highlighted several key bioresources that have an immediate benefit case. For example carbon dioxide recovery from flue gas and biogas upgrading is of particular interest due to the recent carbon dioxide shortages and UK government intervention. The next steps may include developing whole life cost models to demonstrate feasibility, pilot plant trials or full-scale implementation. Recognizing the potential change to regulations in the UK regarding biosolids end product use, the study included various biosolids treatment and disposal options. The UK Water Industry Bioresources Strategies have shifted to almost 100% recovery to agriculture and a predominance of treatment via anaerobic digestion/ advanced digestion. Due to the UK regulators currently reviewing the regime for biosolids treatment, storage and use, associated requirements restricting the application of nutrients and stakeholder concerns about emerging hazards, further investigation into bioresources from thermal treatment is recommended as it may provide the right balance between outlet risk mitigation and a sustainable management solution for biosolids. A study into pyrolysis / gasification products was recommended which may involve developing outlets for bio-oil, biochar and syngas and further R&D into bio-oil upgrading and biochar utilization. A key lesson learnt that should be considered for future studies is that collaboration between clients and consultants is imperative. The steer from the client on the direction of their strategy will influence the technologies, products and markets that need to be evaluated. Otherwise, there is a risk that lots of time and effort will go into looking at products that are not viable. Atkins and TWUL used a two-phased approach where we initially carried out a high-level overview of all potential resources (as presented in this abstract) with planned future targeted research into the more viable options. Future studies should include a high-level Porter's five-force analysis for each product. This will highlight competition in the industry, potential new entrants to the industry, power of suppliers, power of customers and threat of substitute products. This analysis would allow us to further understand opportunity and barriers of entry to market for various products. Another key lesson is that nationally there is not a good level of data available on what products the market really needs. There needs to be more joined up thinking around resource recovery at a national level, where the key challenge will be unlocking collaboration across multiple sectors. The study provides a snapshot of each bioresources' maturity in terms of technological advancements and market potential at this point in time. It is hoped that this work will help to inform the development of UK biosolids strategies, bioresource recovery R&D plans and help the UK water industry realize and capture the value in their 'waste'. Furthermore, these insights and tactics could be adopted on a global scale to maximize the value of waste.