Periodic Reporting for period 2 - VARIO (Emission controll system for wastewater treatment)
Reporting period: 2024-04-01 to 2025-03-31
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are major contributors of GHG, currently responsible for 2% of all EU emissions. This is equivalent to the entire airline industry (2,1%). Nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) make-up over 70% of these emissions. They need to be reduced to reach EU Green Deal objectives and achieve net-zero in this sector by 2040. Moreover, new EU regulation requires WWTP to start monitoring and reporting these direct emissions. Currently WWTP are lacking commercial solutions to do this. Measurement technology, generating high quality data all year around are of necessity to reduce these emissions in the treatment process, as N2O & CH4 can be avoided through correct process control. Similarly, real-time analytics are required to operate WWTP cost-effectively, reducing chemical and energy demand. VARIO provides a disruptive solution to these problems with its patented measurement technology and AI-based optimization models.
WP3 – Technology Development and Optimisation: WP3 was the core R&D work package, responsible for developing the VARIO hardware and software innovations. It comprised five technical tasks (3.1–3.5) addressing different components of the system, each with corresponding deliverables:WP3 delivered all promised technical outputs: the multiplexing hardware, the EmiCo Lite analyzer, the AI/digital twin software, and the cloud-based user platform. Minor deviations in approach (pivoting tasks 3.2 and 3.3 as described) were managed without issue and in fact improved the relevance of results. The combined system was demonstrated successfully in operational settings, providing strong evidence that the VARIO solution can achieve its technical and environmental goals. WP3’s work underpins the overall project impact by creating an innovative tool that is now ready for market deployment.
'The VARIO project has achieved significant impact across scientific, societal, economic, and industrial dimensions:
- Scientific Impact - The project advanced the state-of-the-art in wastewater treatment monitoring by developing novel methodologies for emissions tracking and process optimization. Scientifically, VARIO generated new insights into the formation and mitigation of nitrous oxide (a potent greenhouse gas) in biological treatment processes. Through data analysis and modeling, the project identified key drivers of N2O emissions (e.g. oxygen transfer rate, ammonia levels, etc.) and demonstrated how adjusting these parameters can drastically reduce emissions.
- Societal Impact - Wastewater treatment is responsible for notable GHG emissions (about 2% of all emissions in the EU), and reducing these emissions has direct societal benefits in fighting climate change. The VARIO project’s solution enables municipal and industrial WWTPs to drastically lower their carbon footprint, contributing to national and EU climate targets. For example, the pilot in Stuttgart is now avoiding an estimated 1,522 tonnes of CO2e emissions per year thanks to VARIO-guided process changes
- Economic Impact - The project has had a positive economic impact on both the solution provider (Variolytics) and end-users. For WWTP operators, implementing VARIO leads to operational cost savings by optimizing processes – mainly through energy savings and report automation. Aeration is one of the largest energy consumers in wastewater treatment, and VARIO’s digital twin identified strategies to cut aeration energy by ~24% in the pilot case.
- Industrial Impact - VARIO’s success is influencing the wastewater treatment industry by introducing a new standard for emissions monitoring and control. Traditionally, WWTPs have not monitored GHG emissions in real-time, and process control has not factored in emission optimization. The project’s solution fills this gap, effectively pioneering an industrial innovation.
- Scientific Impact - The project advanced the state-of-the-art in wastewater treatment monitoring by developing novel methodologies for emissions tracking and process optimization. Scientifically, VARIO generated new insights into the formation and mitigation of nitrous oxide (a potent greenhouse gas) in biological treatment processes. Through data analysis and modeling, the project identified key drivers of N2O emissions (e.g. oxygen transfer rate, ammonia levels, etc.) and demonstrated how adjusting these parameters can drastically reduce emissions.
- Societal Impact - Wastewater treatment is responsible for notable GHG emissions (about 2% of all emissions in the EU), and reducing these emissions has direct societal benefits in fighting climate change. The VARIO project’s solution enables municipal and industrial WWTPs to drastically lower their carbon footprint, contributing to national and EU climate targets. For example, the pilot in Stuttgart is now avoiding an estimated 1,522 tonnes of CO2e emissions per year thanks to VARIO-guided process changes
- Economic Impact - The project has had a positive economic impact on both the solution provider (Variolytics) and end-users. For WWTP operators, implementing VARIO leads to operational cost savings by optimizing processes – mainly through energy savings and report automation. Aeration is one of the largest energy consumers in wastewater treatment, and VARIO’s digital twin identified strategies to cut aeration energy by ~24% in the pilot case.
- Industrial Impact - VARIO’s success is influencing the wastewater treatment industry by introducing a new standard for emissions monitoring and control. Traditionally, WWTPs have not monitored GHG emissions in real-time, and process control has not factored in emission optimization. The project’s solution fills this gap, effectively pioneering an industrial innovation.