BlueGrid - Flexible energy utilization in wastewater supply at full system

Krüger, BlueKolding and Energi Denmark want to realize the BlueGrid project at Bluekolding’s sewer system and central wastewater treatment plant. The purpose of the project is to demonstrate the utility capability to deliver balancing of the electrical grit with a short response time. This is achieved through development and implementation of intelligent control, which is based on weather models and radar warnings, of the sewer system, the waste water treatment plant and the energy producing units. The integration of the combined facility for a waste water utility and Smart Grid allows balancing services to be sold via adjustment of the energy consumption and production. This has never been proven at full scale before.

The need for alternative balancing options increases as more and more fluctuating renewable energy is being produced. The BlueGrid project will contribute to an increase in the security of supply of electricity; allow more renewable energy to be used while a sustainable treatment of wastewater can be maintained at the lowest possible cost. 

The market potential in Denmark alone is estimated to 100 wastewater treatment plants. The developed solutions are also relevant on a global scale, where a market potential of approximately 1000 plants has been conservatively estimated.