Maximising biogas production with cutting-Edge technologies for greater Resource availability and digitaL tools for Increased efficieNcies

Introduction

LIFE MERLIN (Maximizing biogas production with cutting-edge technologies for greater resource availability and digital tools for increased efficiencies) will demonstrate an innovative and cost-effective combination of sludge pre-treatment with co-digestion to boost biogas production, aligned with RePowerEU targets for EU energy independence and decarbonisation.

Sludge Pre-Treatment Technology

MERLIN's sludge pre-treatment train is based on the application of saponification and sonication with ultrasound technology to release the enzymes present in the cellular walls of biomass, boosting the production of biogas.

Furthermore, the dewaterability of sludge is improved, meaning that lower volumes of digestate need to be disposed of.

Digital Tool Development

A digital tool will be developed for co-digestion. This tool will include:

• Pre-screened available co-substrates in the vicinity of the implementation sites.
• A library from which the feeding rate and co-substrate feeding mixtures will be recommended.

Co-digestion process parameters will be monitored to boost the availability and biogas/electricity production.

Demonstration Sites

This innovative combination of sludge enzymatic hydrolysis and smart co-digestion will be demonstrated in:

1. Murcia Este (Murcia, Spain)
2. Monte Orgegia (Alicante, Spain)

It is expected that once the implementation of these two demonstration sites validates at large scale the positive impacts on biogas production, these technologies will be implemented at full scale in more wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), boosting national and European productions of biogas.

Expected Impact

Thus, the LIFE MERLIN project is expected to have a positive impact on many different levels:

• On an environmental level, CO2 fossil emissions will be curbed.
• Local jobs will be created.
• LIFE MERLIN will contribute to decreasing the EU's economic dependency on natural gas imports.