The sewage treatment plant in Schönerlinde, Berlin, is being used for a groundbreaking experiment: turning wastewater into hydrogen.
Hydrogen is essential to the energy transition due to its potential as a clean energy source. Traditionally, hydrogen is produced from water using electricity, a process known as electrolysis. The Schönerlinde plant aims to employ treated wastewater for this purpose, conserving drinking water resources in the process.
Process scientist Jens-Uwe Repke elaborates on the project, stating that the initiative includes producing ozone required for the plant’s advanced treatment stage. This stage removes chemical traces, such as pharmaceuticals, from wastewater. Notably, the treatment plant already generates more electricity from wind power than it consumes, which supports the initiative of reducing hydrogen costs.
The project aims to evaluate the efficiency of using treated wastewater for electrolysis. This method is environmentally friendly and helps conserve drinking water. However, challenges remain, particularly concerning hydrogen storage and transportation. Currently, infrastructure to support widespread hydrogen usage is lacking. As a result, alternative approaches, such as converting hydrogen to methane, are being explored to facilitate integration into existing gas networks.
On-site at the Schönerlinde facility, two pilot projects are underway: one focusing on electrolysis and another using a bioreactor where microorganisms convert hydrogen into methane. Repke emphasizes that valuable data will be collected to refine these processes. While the primary goal isn’t to eliminate fossil fuels, the project contributes significantly to decarbonization efforts.
