BIOGAS GENERATION

At Osberstown Sludge Treatment, MEICA Consulting Engineers Ltd, while working for RPS Consulting Engineers on behalf of Uisce Eireann as MEICA Resident Engineers worked with Partners Veolia Water and JB Barry & Partners.

Veolia were the appointed Contractor while JB Barry & Partners were the appointed Employer's Representative. MEICA Consulting Engineers Ltd. conducted review of Contractor's Design, supervision of site installation and commissioning supervision of the Sludge hub.

Osbertown Sludge Hub is co-located with Osbertown Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Sludge Hub Processes all the sludge from the treatment plant, and imported sludge from all the other treatment plants in Co. Kildare.

The Sludge Hub utilises Advanced Anaerobic Digestion to increased the organic loading on the Anaerobic Digestors so as the existing Digesters can generate more Biogas, renewable fuel.

The Biogas storage and emergency flaring facilities were also upgraded. This is included an upgraded Lightning Protection System. A full Hazardous Area Assessment for the entire Sludge Hub was also completed inline with current ATEX regulations and standards.

This facilities also utilised Thermal Hydrolysis as part of the Advanced Anaerobic Digestion process.

The Biogas undergoes a cleaning processes to remove Water Vapor, Hydrogen Sulphites, Siloxanes. The Biogas pressure is also boosted. This conditioning allows the Biogas to be burned in a Combined Heat & Power Gas Engine. The heat from the Gas Engines provides heat for the Nitrogen removal from the liquors coming from the Sludge Hub and this heat also assists in the generation of steam needed for the Thermal Hydrolysis Process.

This technical solution provides an energy neutral site, where the vast major of wastewater treatment in Co. Kildare is treated.

The project also reduces CO2 emissions by more than 8,000 tonnes per annum and delivers energy savings the equivalent of >2,700 households which will help Ireland meet our climate action goals. This project was truly a collaborative effort by all involved parties.

Osberstown Wastewater Treatment Plant & SludgeHub Combined Site Awards:

SEAI Energy Awards 2022.
ICE Awards 2023.
Sustainable Business Awards 2023.

BACK

On Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant, while working for JB Barry & Partners, MEICA Consulting Engineers Ltd again provided MEICA Resident Engineering Services on behalf of Uisce Eireann for the Sludge Line Enhancement Works. These works included an upgrade of the Advanced Anaerobic Digestion process, an upgrade to Thermal Hydrolysis Process, upgrades to Sludge Dewatering and Sludge Handling Facilities. MEICA Consulting Engineers Ltd colabrated with various project partners, where 3JV were the Employer's Representative and Murphy Process Ltd was the appointed Contractor. (The 3JV is an engineering consultancy consortium involving TJ O’Connor & Associates, a Dublin-based firm, JB Barry & Partners, part of Egis Group, a global engineering and operations firm, and Netherlands-based, global consulting and engineering firm Royal Haskoning DHV.)

MEICA Consulting Engineers Ltd. conducted review of Contractor's Design, supervision of site installation and commissioning.

Both these sites provide a "Blueprint" for sustainable harnessing of resources from wastewater with:

energy production based on CHP technology to reduce CO2 emissions.
energy Efficiencies based on advanced real-time control of the various treatment processes.
recovering soil enriching fertiliser end product rich in N + P. Sustainable Phosphorus generation for agricultural purposes.
implementation of advanced Asset Management.