{"id":8523,"date":"2024-10-08T09:55:36","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T07:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/?p=8523"},"modified":"2024-10-08T10:00:52","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T08:00:52","slug":"8523","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/?p=8523&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"The Bulgarian water plant transforming waste into power and products"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><strong>The Bulgarian water plant transforming waste into power and products<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Bulgarian water plant transforming waste into power and products\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1c75UIW3iDg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Getting water to our taps and treating it afterwards accounts for about 5% of the greenhouse gas emissions of many countries. But one water plant in Bulgaria is bucking the trend. Can this be scaled up so the water industry gets to net zero?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>From turning on a tap to flushing the toilet, few of us often stop to consider the environmental impact of our water use. The process of providing clean water and treating that water once we\u2019ve used it, however, has a significant carbon footprint. In fact, in many countries, the energy needed to pump and treat our water is thought to add up to around 5% of all greenhouse gas emissions, a figure comparable to the aviation industry.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8511\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8511\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8511\" src=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-1.png 750w, https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-1-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8511\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>In many countries, the water industry accounts for around 5% of all greenhouse gas emissions<\/em><br \/><em>Photo Credit: euronews<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Bulgaria bucks the trend<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A few hours after somebody goes to the toilet in Bulgaria\u2019s capital Sofia, what gets flushed away normally ends up at the Kubratovo wastewater treatment plant. Operated by Sofiyska Voda, part of the Veolia group, the plant is one of the most energy-efficient in Europe.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8512\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8512\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8512\" src=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-2.png 750w, https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-2-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8512\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>The Kubratovo plant produces biogas which it transforms into electricity and heat<\/em><br \/><em>Photo Credit: euronews<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe collect the wastewater from Sofia citizens. We treat it here so that it&#8217;s clean when it enters the river. In the process, we produce biogas. This biogas is then transformed into electricity and heat. The heat is used for our processes and the electricity satisfies the needs of this plant,\u201d Stanislav Stanev, the Technical Director at Veolia Bulgaria, told Euronews.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8513\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8513\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8513\" src=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-3.png 750w, https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-3-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8513\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Stanislav Stanev, Technical Director for Veolia Bulgaria<\/em><br \/><em>Photo Credit: euronews<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Every year the Kubratovo plant generates around 24,000 megawatt-hours of electricity and heat energy &#8211; enough to power 2,300 homes annually. But what sets the plant apart from other water treatment facilities is the efficiency of its digesters where the biogas is made, explains Stanislav.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8514\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8514\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8514\" src=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-4.png 750w, https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-4-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8514\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Water being treated at the Kubratovo plant near Bulgaria\u2019s capital Sofia<\/em><br \/><em>Photo Credit: euronews<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2019\u2019The difference is the amount of biogas produced. Usually, wastewater treatment plants are producing 50 to 60% of their own needs. And here we cover more than 100% of our needs. We are also saving CO2 emissions, approximately 70,000 tonnes per year.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8515\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8515\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8515\" src=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-5.png 750w, https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-5-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8515\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Stanislav Stanev, Technical Director for Veolia Bulgaria, speaks to Euronews<\/em><br \/><em>Photo Credit: euronews<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Getting to net zero<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8516\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8516\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8516\" src=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-6.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-6.png 750w, https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-6-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8516\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Water being treated at the Kubratovo plant near the Bulgarian capital Sofia<\/em><br \/><em>Photo Credit: euronews<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In addition to CO2, wastewater treatment produces a lot of gases like methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Capturing and using these gases through a process called cogeneration prevents their release into the atmosphere, while also enabling them to be harnessed as an energy source.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8517\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8517\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8517\" src=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-7.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-7.png 750w, https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-7-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8517\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>During the treatment process the plant produces dewatered sludge. Also known as &#8220;cake&#8221;, this can be used as fertiliser or soil conditioner<\/em><br \/><em>Photo Credit: euronews<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThis is one of the industries where it&#8217;s not impossible to get down to net zero emissions or in fact zero emissions,\u201d explains Diana \u00dcrge-Vorsatz, Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8509\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8509\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8509\" src=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-8.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-8.png 750w, https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-8-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8509\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Diana \u00dcrge Vorsatz, Vice Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change<\/em><br \/><em>Photo Credit: euronews<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe have many opportunities to use water much more efficiently and to reuse those gases which are now greenhouse gases. All together, this can become net zero, especially if the energy we use for this is coming from renewable energy sources,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gold Standard<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8510\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8510\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8510\" src=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-9.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-9.png 750w, https:\/\/shukalb.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Veolia-pic-9-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8510\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>The Kubratovo plant is the Bulgarian capital\u2019s main wastewater treatment facility<\/em><br \/><em>Photo Credit: euronews<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Kubratovo plant has already been awarded Gold Standard certification for reducing its emissions but plans are in the pipeline to go further.<\/p>\n<p>Summing up, Stanislav says: \u2018\u2019We are just commissioning a new plant which will boost the biogas production by 10 to 15% here, and we&#8217;re installing photovoltaics. But it&#8217;s not only this plant, we are exchanging with our colleagues trying to inspire the other plants to reach energy self-sufficiency, as this is something that the group is asking us to push forward.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<p><strong>Getting wise to water<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Euronews and the European Commission are partnering to promote the EU&#8217;s Water Wise campaign,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/environment.ec.europa.eu\/topics\/water\/water-wise-eu_en\"><strong>#WaterWiseEU.<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0Our series, Water Matters, and the EU campaign aim to raise awareness about the increasing stress on Europe&#8217;s water systems and the need for sustainable water management. Water Matters will delve into various water-related issues, highlighting the importance of protecting nature and ecosystems integral to the water cycle. Through engaging content, Euronews and the European Commission hope we can inspire individuals and communities to become\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/environment.ec.europa.eu\/topics\/water\/water-wise-eu_en\"><strong>#WaterWiseEU.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Note:<\/em><\/strong><em> This article was taken by <\/em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/2024\/08\/27\/the-bulgarian-water-plant-transforming-waste-into-power\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Euronews website<\/em><\/a><\/span><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.veolia.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Veolia<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/a> <em>is a member of SHUKALB<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Bulgarian water plant transforming waste into power and products Getting water to our taps and treating it afterwards accounts for about 5% of the greenhouse gas emissions of many<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[213],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newsletter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8523"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8523\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shukalb.al\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}