On 25 February, the works on the new sludge processing plant in the port of Ghent were symbolically kicked off. This project is being carried out on behalf of Aquafin by FOSTER, a collaboration between BESIX and Indaver. It includes the design, build, finance package, operation and maintenance of a sludge mono-incineration plant.
Reduction of 28,000 tonnes CO2-eq
This plant will exclusively process Aquafin’s sewage sludge, enabling maximum recovery of both energy and raw materials. Due to the choice of location and the added value of the energy produced, this sludge mono-processor will have a positive impact by reducing emissions by 28,000 tonnes CO2-eq. This will make a significant contribution to the climate targets.
Works started four months ago. The first phase of the civil preparatory works will be completed in March 2025. After that, the construction of the thermal processing part will start. The entire construction period will take less than two years.
Energy and materials from sewage sludge
As from 2027, this state-of-the-art plant will recover energy from the sewage sludge of 4 million inhabitants. Two-thirds of all sewage sludge in Flanders will be processed here.
The plant will be built on the premises of ArcelorMittal Belgium, which is granting Aquafin a building right on the site. The company will use all the steam produced by the sludge processing as an additional feed for the internal steam network. In this way, the plant also contributes to the steel producer’s sustainability strategy. FINARMIT, 100% subsidiary of public renewable energy investor FINEG, will build the expansion turbine that will accept and expand the steam. The steam will be injected into ArcelorMittal Belgium’s steam network. The electricity that the expansion turbine will produce will be supplied to FOSTER.
Phosphorus recovery planned
In a follow-up project, Aquafin also plans to start full-scale phosphorus recovery from sludge processing residues with this plant. Phosphorus is an essential building block for all life. It is used in modern agriculture in the form of phosphate in fertilisers. Via human urine, it enters waste water and from there into sewage sludge. By opting for mono-processing of sludge, phosphorus can be recovered more effectively. This will make Flanders less dependent on foreign mining operations.
