Pathways to gain recycled P materials into new value chain – New project launched
Pathways to gain recycled P materials into new value chain – New project launched
At a time when the need for sustainable management of resources and raw materials is growing, the project ‘Pathways to recycle phosphorus-rich residual raw materials into new value chains’ has been launched.
Worldwide access to phosphorus, a vital and non-renewable element, is critical. The project will explore possible processes/technologies to recycle phosphorus-rich residual raw materials from sewage and fish sludge into new value chains and markets willing to pay for them. These include both agriculture and the chemical industry.
The project aims to find practical methods that can reduce waste while utilising valuable raw materials in new products. This is fully in line with strong signals from the EU, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently initiated a plan for a Circular Economy Act. The legislation is to help create market demand for secondary raw materials and a single market for waste, notably in relation to critical raw materials.
In Norway, municipalities are facing increasing costs associated with managing the resources in sewage sludge. In addition to this, the aquaculture industry is expected to face stricter requirements for the management of organic waste from land-based facilities.
The project ‘Pathways to gain recycle P materials into new value chain’ will help to find solutions that respond to these challenges. The project has a time frame of 16 months and a financial framework of NOK 5,364,250.
Activities of the project
These are some of the activities included in the project:
- Map volumes of secondary raw materials such as sewage sludge and fish sludge from relevant sectors in Norway. Mapping the volume and quantity of primarily recyclable phosphorus, but also nitrogen and potassium.
- Identify new markets for products based on recycled phosphorus and other nutrients (N, K).
- Develop realistic end products for use in agriculture and other value chains.
- Evaluate technologies that enable efficient treatment of secondary raw materials, preferably without incineration to ash.
- Conduct a technical evaluation of secondary raw materials and assess regulatory barriers.
The project is funded by Innovation Norway Trøndelag and Trøndelag County.
It is led by the biogas plant Ecopro AS, with the support of several industrial, municipal and research actors. The broad collaboration provides a solid basis for developing sustainable, technologically feasible solutions that respond to future demands for recycling.
Key partners are:
Yara International ASA, a leading company producing and selling fertilisers, continuously evaluating the use of recycled nutrients in its portfolio.
Solberg Industri AS, a chemical supplier that delivers basic chemicals to the entire industry in Norway and has a strong focus on customer needs and opportunities for reusing chemicals.
Danske Bank, contributing with knowledge of EU taxonomy regulations and financial expertise and insight into sustainable investments.
Norwegian Water (Norsk Vann), the national association for the water and wastewater industry, provides industry-specific knowledge.
NCE Aquatech Cluster, which brings together stakeholders from the aquaculture industry, contributes insight into the handling of fish sludge and sustainable solutions for the aquaculture sector.
Civac Circular Values Cluster, which works to promote the circular economy in Norway, supports with expertise in circular value creation.
Research partners NIBIO (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy) and RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden), contribute with research-based knowledge and technological evaluation of the processes.
Municipal and regional contributors include:
Bergen Vann, responsible for ensuring the production and supply of clean drinking water and managing wastewater in Bergen municipality, as well as operations for Bjørnafjorden municipality.
IVAR IKS, an inter-municipal company responsible for water supply, wastewater management and waste management for several municipalities in Rogaland.
Tønsberg renseanlegg IKS, an inter-municipal company that treats wastewater from Tønsberg and the surrounding area.
Vann- og avløpsetaten, Oslo Municipality, which is responsible for ensuring the supply of clean drinking water and managing wastewater in Oslo Municipality.
The aquaculture and technology industries are also participating:
Andfjord Salmon, a leading land-based aquaculture company with ambitions to develop circular solutions for sludge management.
Multigen, a technology developer of closed systems in the sea, both for post-smolt and food fish with a focus on zero-emission solutions.
Contact information:
Tore Fløan, general manager of Ecopro AS
Phone number: +47 911 53 790
E-mail: tore@ecopro.no
Website: www.ecopro.no
Trine Eggen, senior researcher NIBIO
Phone number: +47 909 97 074
E-mail: trine.eggen@nibio.no
Website: www.nibio.no