Market Opportunities in Portugal for the Water-and-Waste Sector Using Sludge Gasification

Octávio Alves, Bruno Garcia, Bruna Rijo, Gonçalo Lourinho and Catarina Nobre ()
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Octávio Alves: CoLAB BIOREF—Collaborative Laboratory for Biorefineries, 4466-901 São Mamede de Infesta, Portugal
Bruno Garcia: CoLAB BIOREF—Collaborative Laboratory for Biorefineries, 4466-901 São Mamede de Infesta, Portugal
Bruna Rijo: CoLAB BIOREF—Collaborative Laboratory for Biorefineries, 4466-901 São Mamede de Infesta, Portugal
Gonçalo Lourinho: CoLAB BIOREF—Collaborative Laboratory for Biorefineries, 4466-901 São Mamede de Infesta, Portugal
Catarina Nobre: VALORIZA—Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-16

Abstract: The water-and-waste sector has shown a marked interest in innovative management practices for dewatered sludge. The need to manage increased sludge volumes at rising disposal costs, coupled with the recognition of the potential for on-site energy production, have been the key drivers for this recent appeal. With the current political view supporting the development of a renewable-gas industry in Portugal, renewable gases are considered an attractive solution for dewatered-sludge valorization. Moreover, investment in renewable-gas supply chains would help the industry to mature to a level at which the technology and market are rapidly established. Recognizing this interest, dewatered-sludge gasification was selected as a possible valorization pathway, with the potential for hydrogen and bio-SNG production, as well as decentralized heat and power. This document identifies the market opportunities for the establishment of sewage-sludge gasification in Portugal. The analysis starts with a brief overview of the Portuguese water-and-waste sector, and a description of the current status of the renewable-gas markets. Finally, the dewatered-sludge amounts are quantified, and the potential for energy and renewable-gas production is estimated to support the interest in wastewater management in advanced processes, and to pave the way for future feasibility studies.

Keywords: sewage sludge; gasification; combined heat and power; hydrogen; biosynthetic natural gas; market analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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