NWC Produces Clean Energy at Heet and Ajyal Plants

The National Water Company (NWC) has successfully generated clean energy by treating wastewater at the Heet plant in Riyadh and Ajyal plant in the Eastern Region.
 According to a recent press release from NWC, the production involves converting emissions resulting from wastewater treatment processes into energy sources by transforming sewage treatment plants (STPs) into environmentally friendly plants. The aim is to foster a sustainable environmental sector that develops resources, reduces costs, reduces pollution sources and provides safe supply through high-quality services and environmentally friendly efficiency.
 The company stated in the release: "At NWC, we have a vision and an environmental commitment to provide and ensure world-class water services across the Kingdom, to improve the quality of life of citizens. This is part of Saudi Arabia's commitment to achieve many of the purposes and goals of treating water pollution and reusing treated water as part of the Saudi Vision 2030."
 The release also mentioned that the company has undertaken three main initiatives to produce clean energy from renewable sources. One involves managing sludge generated from wastewater treatment processes (biogas and energy production). Another focuses on the procurement and operation of decentralized wastewater treatment technologies in rural and remote areas. The third centers on implementing environmentally friendly and economical technologies for the treatment of wastewater and sludge.
 NWC emphasized its vision, which prioritizes optimizing sludge utilization through reuse to meet environmental protection standards, protect public health, and achieve sustainable development and circular economy.
 Moreover, the company has said it was ready to launch an initiative aimed at generating clean electricity by producing biogas from sludge, as an advanced technology for its reuse.
 NWC selected two STPs to implement this project: the Ajyal plant in the Eastern Region, and the Heet plant in Riyadh.
 In the release, the company said that the production of biogas involves anaerobic (oxygen-free) digestion of sludge, where organic matter is broken down by anaerobic bacteria to produce biogas (methane gas). This gas is then utilized as a fuel for electricity generation.
 NWC reported having successfully generated 600 kWh of electricity from biogas at Ajyal plant, which covers 30% of its electricity need, and approximately 2,800 kWh at Heet plant, which helps it meet 46% of its basic electrical energy needs.
 The company emphasized that generating clean energy at wastewater treatment plants offers several advantages; it provides environmental benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a key requirement for environmental compliance, by protecting soil, groundwater, and surface water from pollution. Moreover, the sludge digested at biogas production units can be repurposed as fertilizer, thus improving the quality of agricultural land, helping land reclamation, and boosting yields.
 The economic advantages of implementing the Clean Energy Initiative at wastewater treatment plants also include reducing financial costs and conserving and utilizing resources by transforming sludge into an economic resource.
 "NWC is currently working with the relevant authorities to obtain permits and necessary approvals to produce biogas and renewable energy for the company's own use at its plants," the release read.