Responsibility for a critical resource
Phosphorus is vital. It is a component of DNA, teeth, bones - and an indispensable nutrient in agriculture. As phosphorus cannot be produced artificially and its global availability is limited, its recycling from waste streams is ecologically crucial. Thermal sewage sludge utilization offers a promising way to do this: phosphorus can be recycled from the remaining ash and returned to the natural nutrient cycle.
Solution for legal obligation and sustainability promise
EEW currently operates three sewage sludge mono-incineration plants and actively supports the statutory recovery obligation from 2029 in accordance with the Sewage Sludge Ordinance. With the contract, EEW is now ensuring that its own ash is recycled.
“Our aim is not only to meet legal requirements, but also to take responsibility - for our customers, the environment and future generations,” explains Timo Poppe, CEO of the EEW Group. "With this partnership, we are focusing on solutions instead of interim storage: we recycle sewage sludge thermally, safely destroy pollutants such as microplastics and drug residues and recycle phosphorus at the same time. Together with PGS, we recycle phosphate-containing ashes and thus close the nutrient cycle - an important step towards reducing Germany's dependence on imports of this critical raw material."
Technology with a signal effect for the market
The Ash2Phos technology from Swedish company EasyMining achieves a phosphorus recycle rate of over 90% from sewage sludge ash. The future plant at the Schkopau Chemical Park will process up to 30,000 tons of ash per year. In addition to the calcium phosphate product, other valuable materials such as iron chloride and sodium aluminate are also produced, which can be used in wastewater treatment.
"With the Ash2Phos plant, we are demonstrating that European resource security is feasible - with technology that turns waste into new recyclable materials. We are delighted to have entered into a strong partnership with EEW for the protection of resources," says Anna Lundbom, Managing Director of PGS. “As an anchor customer, EEW is not only supporting the economic operation of the plant, but is also taking an early step towards recycling phosphorus from mono-incineration ash.”
Market signal and strategic step for EEW
EEW is a reliable partner and has created an environmentally friendly alternative to agricultural sewage sludge recycling with sewage sludge mono-incineration. With the conclusion of the contract, a further milestone has been reached and the future recycling of phosphate-containing ashes is ensured - the nutrient cycle is closed again. Commissioning of the plant is planned for 2027.
Further information on the Ash2Phos system can be found at:
https://www.pg-schkopau.de/
EEW company profile:
EEW Energy from Waste GmbH (EEW) is a leading company in the circular economy that not only treats waste but uses it as a valuable resource for energy and raw materials. At our 17 sites in Europe, we thermally utilise around 5 million tonnes of waste annually, generating enough electricity to supply 700,000 households. In this way, we make a major contribution to climate protection and resource conservation. With more than 1,400 employees, we work hard to efficiently utilise the energy contained in waste, reduce waste volumes and lower CO2 emissions. Our sustainability strategy aims to make our operations climate-neutral by 2030 and climate-positive by 2045. CO2 capture at our plants will play a key role in this.
Phosphorgewinnung Schkopau GmbH company profil:
Phosphorgewinnung Schkopau GmbH (PGS) was founded in 2021 by GELSENWASSER AG and EasyMining Services Sweden AB to build the first Ash2Phos plant in Germany. This first industrial-scale plant will be built at the Schkopau Chemical Park in Saxony-Anhalt and will have a capacity of 30,000 tons of ash from incinerated sewage sludge per year. The plant will receive ash from the mono-incineration plant in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, but can also treat ash from other mono-incineration plants. PHOSPHORGEWINNUNG SCHKOPAU (pg-schkopau.de)