WP 6: Comparative assessment of cost effectiveness and of environmental performance

This work-package is dedicated to explore the cost‐effectiveness and environmental performance of the technologies addressed and developed in CleanWater for the Baltic Sea Region context.

Vision

To explore the cost‐effectiveness and environmental performance of the technologies addressed and developed in CleanWater for the Baltic Sea Region context.

Key results from WP6

When going to full-scale with advanced wastewater treatment for removal of organic micropollutants it is important to evaluate both economic feasibility and environmental impact. In the Cleanwater project environmental impact has been assessed based on global warming potential. Costs for different technologies have been estimated based on capital as well as operational costs including costs for planning, design and project management. Depending upon goals for the treatment, life cycle assessments, based on costs and environmental impact, can be used as decision tools.

Global warming potential and specific annual costs have been estimated for two different cases, 1 000 persons and 200 000 persons, reflecting small and large scale plants. Some of the technologies, like bio filtration and biomimetic forward osmosis are considered as more suitable for small-scale treatment whereas ozonation and MBBR-processes could be applied in small as well as in large-scale. Global warming potential vary across technologies and scales but in most cases the contribution to climate change can be estimated to approximately 0.1 CO2eq/m3 or lower. Costs will be higher for the small-scale plants. In large scale costs for ozonation and MBBR were estimated to less than 0.04 €/m3.

Tool for estimation of annual costs

A tool for estimation of annual costs have been developed within WP 6 in the Cleanwater project. The tool is intended for support in cost estimations of advanced treatment solutions.

Download the tool here (as Excel sheet)

Publications

Zhang, X., Cimbritz, M., Thomsen, M. Comparative assessment of cost-effectiveness and environmental performance of the technologies in the Baltic Sea Region Context.

Tasks in WP6

• Provide concept for assessment and data collection to the research group
• Collect data relevant for assessment of costs and environmental performance
• Calculate costs based on operation and investments (Total expenditure). In particular cost efficiency will be assessed comparing operating the following: i) intelligent ozonation with sensor control and enhanced ozone introduction system, ii) single polishing MBBR, iii) MBBR post ozonation, iv) replacement of active sludge by MBBR, v) MBR, vi) forward osmosis, and vii) biofilters
• Perform comparative environmental performance assessment of i) intelligent ozoantion with sensor control and enhanced ozone introduction system, ii) single polishing MBBR, iii) MBBR post ozonation, iv) replacement of active sludge by MBBR, v) MBR, vi) forward osmosis, and vii) biofilters.
• Report writing

Contact information​

WP-leader
Michael Cimbritz, Lund University, michael.cimbritz@chemeng.lth.se

Project Coordinator
Prof. Kai Bester, kb@envs.au.dk Aarhus University, Dep. of Environ. Sci., Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde