Circular systems

Scale and connection opportunities

In an ideal, fully circular water cycle, energy, side streams and recovered resources (including water) are reused in the water cycle. But it is also possible to take advantage of connection opportunities in the local area to exchange residuals and recovered resources, and thereby scale up to a higher level of circularity in the system. By seeking out local synergy (benefits) with the built environment, industry and agro–food, we can also close resource loops and contribute to a circular economy. The sustainability transition that is taking place worldwide calls for a broader perspective and a good alignment with national and European laws and regulations.

Methods, tools and products

KWR carries out applied research into traditional and innovative cross-sectoral collaboration approaches, and creates connections between various sectors within the energy-food-water nexus. With the resulting built-up expertise, independent insights and innovative solutions, KWR experts can help you choose the right measures to achieve circular or more circular systems. In the process, our focus is not limited to developing the necessary technology, because a system solution only succeeds if the financial, juridical and organisational conditions are also met.

Integrated solutions

In the transition to a circular economy, KWR works on system approaches in which integrated solutions for several raw materials, water and energy are regularly combined. For example, in the Power-to-Protein-concept for the production of proteins from nitrogen in wastewater. Bacteria convert these nutrients using hydrogen into proteins in order to close the nitrogen resource loop. 

In cases of the construction of new residential neighbourhoods or of large-scale renovations, it is important to examine the water conservation possibilities, such as the use of new sanitation or water reuse. Collaborative work and close consultation are crucial in this process. KWR experts from various disciplines take an independent look at the possibilities of reaching a sustainable, practicable system solution, as for example in the Kringloopsluiting Cleantech Playground Amsterdam , or the INTERREG project, ANCHOR (Anthropocene Nutrient and water Control for HOlistic resilience and Recovery).

Projects

Aarhus ReWater 

The Aarhus ReWater project works on a new and groundbreaking manner of treating wastewater. The vision is to create the world’s most resource–efficient treatment plant with a positive climate impact. The goal is to convert wastewater into energy and products in a flexibly adaptable installation, including a living lab for innovative collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Residuals from this wastewater treatment should ultimately be processible into high-value products, such as proteins and biopolymers.

 

ANCHOR: broad knowledge development about urban water reuse

In this project ANCHOR (Anthropocene Nutrient and water Control for HOlistic resilience and Recovery) we study the application of water reuse in combination with nutrient and heat recovery in the built environment. From technical, societal, governance and economic perspectives, we work on getting a clearer picture of the impact of urban water reuse, and provide guidance for its application.

 

Circulair Water 2050

This WiCE-project has generated insight into the impact and opportunities of the ‘fully circular in 2050’ target for the water cycle, in the form of a future vision and roadmaps for the water sector. The project concerned the resource efficiency in the water cycle, including the extraction and reuse of resources. It also developed a practical tool to assess different designs of the physical/technical solutions for a circular water cycle.

 

CoRe Water – From Sewage Treatment Plant to Sustainable Water Factory

CoRe is an innovative treatment concept that stands for ‘Concentrate, Recover and Reuse’. In the CoRe Water concept the wastewater is first concentrated before undergoing further treatment. This allows sewage water to be treated efficiently, with the use of less energy, with greater removal efficiency (N, P and micropollutants), and with an optimal recovery of resources like nutrients, energy and, most of all, water. We thus turn a WWTP into a sustainable water factory, geared towards higher effluent quality, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and the recovery of valuable resources and energy within a modular and adaptive treatment concept.

 

Power-to-Protein

In Power-to-Protein the focus was on closing the artificial nitrogen cycle through the direct upcycling of nitrogen into microbial proteins. The project delivered a highly efficient microbial resynthesis process with a mixed culture of bacteria. From the ammonium released during wastewater treatment in the liquid fraction of the biodigester, the bacteria can make proteins. This only requires hydrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen. The quality of the resulting proteins is good enough for animal or human consumption.

 

Loop-Closure Cleantech Playground Amsterdam

With the Cleantech Playground (CTP) a testbed was realised for clean, innovative technologies in the heart of the city of Amsterdam, with the aim of closing the (biological) loop. It was set up in two adjoining areas in North Amsterdam: an incubator for creative entrepreneurs (De Ceuvel), and a floating residential neighbourhood (Schoonschip). The De Ceuvel experience showed that it is not easy to implement local loop-closure in the Netherlands, and that further research and experience is needed, with larger, more representative projects. This should involve additional research into key questions concerning responsibilities, user acceptance, health and safety risks, sustainability and cost reduction.