'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.
