nir-vana innovation network

The Hungarian company developed and launched a technology for treating communal sewage sludge that is economical in case of small scale production too.
This technology is a self-supporting technology for drying and pelleting sewage sludge without the external need for fossil fuel or any other additional material. Consequently, the most reasonable utilization of pellets is not retail utilization, but meeting the heating and hot water needs of properties owned or operated by municipalities that operate wastewater treatment plants. The pellets generated have a heating value equivalent to that of brown coal heating. It uses a negligible external energy input by reusing 30-50% of the generated pellets in the process to run the drying unit. The technology fits into the ‘energy from waste' policy of the European Union. It enables wastewater plants to meet the strict EU environmental regulations and at the same time, reduce their sewage sludge treatment costs by 50-75%.

Currently, the most preferred and known energetic utilization of sewage sludge is biogas production, which system requires a long implementation time and more millions of Euros investment. That system can improve the energy balance of the wastewater plant, but the residual sludge of the digesting process still needs to be treated further, at a significant cost.
The company is offering the system for potential partners interested in licensing.

Advantages & innovations

- Four-five-year payback period which is quite impressive in the energy sector. - TÜV certified burning material pellet. - The technology is also generating 3-4 workplaces per unit. - The finalized system offers an economical solution to sewage sludge treatment for wastewater companies. - Unique dewatering: Using the end product to run the drying unit; Quick dewatering as compared to the others; Processing sewage sludge locally - Small size of units: 2t/day unit fits 2pcs. 20 feet containers; less land demand (comparing with solar systems); fewer costs of investment per unit; fewer transport costs.

Stage of development

Prototype available for demonstration

Partner sought

The company is offering the system as a licensing opportunity for companies and municipalities in small communities or small cities from regions where the sewage and its treating presents a problem. The focus is on those who are interested in or already actively engaging in sewage treatment.