Page 68 - CARILEC CE Journal CEMAY2021

ENERGY FROM

WASTEWATER:

The Time is Now

By UHRIG

The introduction of German technology leader UHRIG to CARILEC members
comes at a perfect time. The climate crisis is being prioritized globally,
renewable energy and climate insecurity are top-of-mind, and, as the
pandemic wanes, there are hopeful signs of economic recovery. For
utilities interested in the confluence of environmental sustainability and
cost-savings, energy from wastewater is the ideal solution.

THERE IS AN ENORMOUS ENERGY POTENTIAL HOW DOES OUR PROCESS WORK?
HIDDEN IN WASTEWATER. Nearly 15% of It’s really quite simple. Creating energy from
all warming and cooling needs in the Western wastewater requires just three components: a heat
Hemisphere can be met using energy from exchanger, a lateral line, and a heat pump. First, heat
wastewater. Wastewater is renewable, limitless, exchangers (which can be mounted in any sewer)
stored underground, and present in abundant deliver constant energy (heating or cooling); second,
quantities across the globe. Extracting energy from a lateral line connects from the sewer to the heat
wastewater requires no sun, no large tracts of land, pump (just like a house connection to a water line);
no noise, and notably, an energy-from-wastewater and third, the heat pump boosts the energy gained
system from UHRIG operates 24/7/365 with virtually from the sewer with the help of a very small amount
no maintenance. of power.

CARIBBEAN UTILITIES SHOULD CONSIDER UHRIG’S THERM-LINER, INSTALLED IN
ENERGY FROM WASTEWATER AS AN 100+ SEWER SYSTEMS IN EUROPE, IS
IMPORTANT OFFERING TO COMMERCIAL THE PATENTED HEAT EXCHANGER IN
AND INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS, SUCH AS THE AFOREMENTIONED ENERGY FROM
HOSPITALS, HOTELS, OFFICE PARKS, AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION.
MANUFACTURING PLANTS. This modular channel heat exchanger system can be
UHRIG technology can deliver the equivalent of 7 used in new construction canals and also retrofitted
cents per kWh, in stark contrast to the 30 to 50 cents for aging systems. The modules are custom-made
per kWh found on most islands. With exorbitant double-shell pressure vessels made of stainless
diesel fuel prices and intermittent solar and wind steel, which is resistant to pitting and corrosion and
generation capacity driving electricity prices higher is ideal for use in sewage systems. The modules
and higher, our patented Therm-Liner system can are manufactured with precision, according to the
provide energy solutions to utilities and drive costs channel situation, introduced into the channel via the
down, significantly. Moreover, this clean energy existing shaft infrastructure and securely assembled.
source enables utilities and their customers to Warm wastewater flows through the heat exchanger
achieve GHG emissions reduction goals and, in doing and heats the colder wastewater, releasing energy
so, protect vulnerable island ecosystems. to the cooler liquid and warming it up. Through the

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