Energy-water sector coupling

Integration of wastewater infrastructure in renewable energy networks

Electricity grids of the future should be able to deal with the instability of weather-dependent renewable energy resources. Sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants can help stabilize renewable energy grids through demand-side management, which can also result in lower costs for plant operators. However, novel control strategies for energy flexibilization are needed to ensure safe operation of wastewater infrastructure.

We are working on the following technological challenges:

• Methods for the simultaneous evaluation of weather, energy market and grid operation data
• Development of control strategies for energy flexibilization and optimal operation of wastewater treatment plants and sewer networks
• Integration of future power-to-gas processes in wastewater treatment plants

Current results include the development of models for the techno-economic evaluation of the oxygen supply of activated sludge in sewage treatment plants by means of electrolysis. Simulation models were also used to evaluate fuzzy-based control strategies for pumping stations in sewer networks. By integrating data on the energy market and weather forecasts, the simulations with the new control concept resulted in 40 % less mixed water overflow and 16 % lower energy costs.

Publications:

• Euzébio, T. A. M., Parra Ramirez, M. A., Reinecke, S. F., Hampel, U., Energy Price as an Input to Fuzzy Wastewater Level Control in Pump Storage Operation. IEEE Xplore, 11, 93701-93712 (2023).
• Parra Ramirez, M. A., Fogel, S., Reinecke, S. F., Hampel, U., Techno-Economic Assessment of PEM Electrolysis for O2 Supply in Activated Sludge Systems—A Simulation Study Based on the BSM2 Wastewater Treatment Plan. Processes, 11 (6), 1639 (2023).
• Skouteris, G., Parra Ramirez, M. A., Reinecke, S. F., Hampel, U., Energy Flexibility Chances for the Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Benchmark Simulation Model 1. Processes, 9 (10), 1854 (2021).