An essential event for all biosolids and bioresources professionals, providing an overview of the latest innovations, best practice, cutting-edge technologies and research in the field.
The 2025 conference programme will be released in July.
2024 Programme
Last year’s programme was packed with insights from over 60 industry experts, who shared their operational experience and practical solutions to address the challenges facing the biosolids and bioresources sector.
Programme – Tuesday 19th November |
KEYNOTE SPEAKER |
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Environment Agency and the use of sludge
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PROCESS EMISSIONS AND THE JOURNEY TO NET ZERO |
| The fully sustainable biogas, graphene & hydrogen loop Hill, S.1, Clarke, R.1, Lloyd, M.2 and Mansell, L.1, 1United Utilities, UK, 2Levidian, UK |
| Best available techniques for minimizing leaks and compliance with the Industrial Emissions Directive Cox, E., Assentech Sales Ltd, UK |
| Potential of vacuum degassing at Thames Water – impact on dewatering and methane emissions from THP-treated sludge Fountain, P.1, Gejam, E.1, Dittmann, M.2, Knörle, U.2, Hopkins, A-M.3 and Willoughby, N.3, 1Thames Water, UK, 2ELIQUO TECHNOLOGIES, Germany, 3ELIQUO HYDROK, UK |
| Do methane losses from anaerobic digestion compromise sustainability of renewable energy generation? Bajon Fernandez, Y., Michalakakis, C.2 and Bateman, C.2, 1Cranfield University, UK, 2Department of Energy Security and Net Zero – DESNZ, UK |
| Residual biogas – what does good look like? Bungay, S.1, Fountain, P.2, Smyth, M.3, Mann, J.1, 1AD Ingenuity LLP, UK, 2Thames Water, UK, 3Aqua Environment Solutions Ltd, UK |
| QuantifIED though bioresources process simulation – supporting low cost, low carbon futures Lake, A.1, Kraakman, B.1, Bungay S.2, Alexander, Z.1, 1Jacobs, UK, 2ADIngenuity, UK |
| Quantum gas lidar for methane emission measurement from biogas assets Harrison, A.1, Srinamasivayam, B.1, Van Pelt, A.2, Lindsay, G.2, Went, C.1, Megal, L.1, Challis, L.1 and Singh, E.1, 1Severn Trent Water, UK, 2QLM Technology Ltd, UK |
| Process safety and the added benefits of loss prevention in the control of greenhouse gas emissions Jeavons, J., Stantec, UK |
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Scottish Water digitally-enabled journey to net zero
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PANEL DISCUSSION: A CONVERSATION ABOUT RESIDUAL EMISSIONS |
| Chair: Matthew Smyth, Director, Aqua Environment Solutions Ltd
Panel:
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LANDBANK CHALLENGES |
| Eco-toxicological and climate change effects of sludge thermal treatments: Pathways towards zero pollution and negative emissions Svennevik, O.K.1, Jahre Nilsen,L P.1, Cherubini, F.2, Morales, M.2, Arp, H.P.3, Castro, G.4,2, Asimakopoulos, A.2, Sørmo, E.3 and Peters, G.5, 1VOW ASA, Norway, 2Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway, 3Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Norway, 4University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, 5Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden |
| Agricultural use of biosolids: Farmer perspectives and evidence of environmental risks Cloy, J.1, Kitching, N.1 and Hough, R.2, 1Fidra, UK, 2The James Hutton Institute, UK |
| Comparing the carbon footprint of pyrolysis for PFAS removal to land application of biosolids cake Barber, B., Cambi Inc., USA |
| Is land application of biosolids a significant source of human PFAS exposure? Pepper, I., Prasek, S.M. and Brusseau, M.L., University of Arizona, USA |
| Biosolids planning for an uncertain future – how regulatory drivers and technology developments are influencing long-term infrastructure decisions Auerbach, E.1, Kikale, P.1, and McClure, A.2, 1Arcadis, UK, 2City of Toledo, USA |
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Risky? Really?
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PANEL DISCUSSION: A CONVERSATION ON THE VIABILITY OF SUSTAINING RECOVERY OF BIOSOLIDS TO AGRICULTURE |
| Chair: Matt Stewart, Associate Director – Bioresources, AtkinsRéalis
Panel:
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THERMAL AND BIOLOGICAL HYDROLYSIS |
| Road to net zero – intermediate thermal hydrolysis in large WWTP Rus, E.1, Ringoot, D.2 and Kosciukiewicz, J.3, 1Cambi Group, UK, 2Cambi Group, Denmark, 3Cambi Group, Poland |
| Operational experience and performance evaluation of changing thermal hydrolysis pressure from 6 barg (1650C) to 2.6 barg (145oC) at a full scale advanced anaerobic digestion facility Devlin, D., Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, UK |
| Experiences of recommissioning acid phase digestion at Claymills STF Went, C., Challis, L. and Bancroft, A., Severn Trent Water, UK |
| Full scale application of thermal hydrolysis with lower thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion yields higher throughput at Tarnow Waterworks, Poland Mukawa, J.1 , Sahu, A.J.2, Ringoot, D.2, Niedzielska, A.2, Somodea, A.2 and Finstad, T.2, 1Operations, Tarnow Waterworks, Poland, 2Cambi Group AS, Norway |
| Optimising the heat balance of HELEA® for CHP and GtG installations to deliver the sustainable route to advanced digestion Oliver, B.1, Jaques, A.1, and Constable, K.2, 1Royal HaskoningDHV, 2Anglian Water, UK |
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Partial THP with sequential AD – addressing IED
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ADVANCING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION |
| Assessing the effect of thermal drying on AAD energy balances Merry, J., Stantec, UK |
| Ephyra® plug-flow digestion – latest design developments and update on UK projects Kabir, M., Royal HaskoningDHV, UK |
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Maximising value from biogas with biogas upgrading operational services
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ADVANCED THERMAL CONVERSION PROCESSES |
| FIREFLY – sewage sludge to sustainable aviation fuel Askey-Wood, J.1, Lima, S.1, Douthwaite, M.1, Black, S.2 and Inman, D.2, 1Firefly Green Fuels, UK, 2Anglian Water, UK |
| Latest news from AquaGreen on biosolids drying and pyrolysis projects in Denmark Wieth, C., AquaGreen ApS, Denmark |
| Exploring the unique attributes of hydrothermal oxidation as a compelling bioresource processing technology Gapes, D.1, Jefferson, B.2, Lei, R.1 and Stuthridge, T.1, 1Cetogenix Ltd, New Zealand, 2Cranfield University, UK |
| Biosolids Carbonisation: Key design parameters and relationship with plant operation Al-Saleem, M., Stantec, UK |
| Evaluation of sewage sludge for processing in autothermal pyrolysis Pedros, P.1, Daugaard, T.2 and Brown, R.2, 1Mott MacDonald, USA, 2Iowa State University, USA |
| Assessing ATC technologies: Effectiveness in Removing Microplastics and Persistent Substances. UKWIR CIP4 Microplastics & ATC Project Riches, S., Lancaster, R., Wilson, R. and Luqmani, B., AtkinsRéalis, UK |
Programme – Wednesday 20th November |
KEYNOTE SPEAKER |
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A review of whether biochar is effective for improving agricultural soil in a UK context
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ADVANCED THERMAL CONVERSION PROCESSES |
| Biochar production from screening waste Vaughan, D., Carbogenics Ltd, UK |
| Siloxanes in producer gas from pyrolysis of sewage sludge and a potential solution Pedros, P.1, Knörle, U.2 and Kukreja, A.3, 1Mott MacDonald, USA, 2ELIQUO Technologies GmbH, Germany, 3Durr Systems, Inc., USA |
| Biosolids valorisation technology for closed-loop resource recovery Meyer, J., Onunda Ltd, UK |
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Sewage sludge gasification, the Yorkshire Water ATC story
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PANEL DISCUSSION: ADVANCED THERMAL CONVERSION – EXPLORING £12 MILLION OF OFWAT INNOVATION PROJECTS |
| Chair: Matthew Smyth, Director, Aqua Environment Solutions Ltd
Speakers/Panellists:
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CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND THE ROLE FOR NUTRIENT RECOVERY |
| Circular Economy? Show us the money Tompkins, D., WSP, UK |
| Scottish Water resource recovery factory Wilson, R.1, Banfield, P.1, Bullen, A.1, Talboys, P.1, Pari, G.1, Kennedy, T.2, Hemple, G.2, Adams, G.2 and Halley, C.2, 1AtkinsRéalis, UK, 2Scottish Water, UK |
| Addressing existing bioresources challenges while enabling the Circular Economy Kraakman, B., Gonzalez, C., Alexander, Z., and Lake, A., Jacobs, UK |
| Exploring cellulose recovery from wastewater in Saudi Arabia: opportunities for advancing the circular economy in NEOM Aljohani, S. and Ragab, A., ENOWA – NEOM, Saudi Arabia |
| Circularity of biosolids treatment pathways: a screening tool Samberger, C., Stantec, UK |
| Biopolymers in the circular economy Clarke, R.1, Shortland, G.1 and Lavender, P.2, 1United Utilities, UK, 2Royal HaskoningDHV, UK |
| The future of hydrogen production in the UK water sector Samberger, C.1, Brown, D.1, Le Roux, A.1, Futter, M.1, Anderson, H.2, Cawthorne, L.2, Andresen, J.3, 1Stantec UK, 2Ikigai, UK, Heriot Watt University, UK |
| Aqua2®N – Innovative technology to remove and recover nitrogen from wastewater Altenburg, S. and Cohen, Y., EasyMining Services Sweden AB |
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The use of biochar towards a circular economy- optimisation of chemically activated biochar for aqueous phosphate recovery
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ADVANCING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION |
| Introducing OpsMod: a powerful operations modelling app to optimise energy and carbon emissions for advanced anaerobic digestion sites at Northumbrian Water Laing, H.1, Browne, A.1, Willis, M.2 and O’Malley, C.2, 1Northumbrian Water Ltd, UK, 2Newcastle University, UK |
| Enhancing anaerobic digesters efficiency through thermal pre-treatment: impacts on sludge composition and trace element bioavailability in full-scale sites Nasar, N.1, Pizzagali, G.2, Coulton, F.1 and Bajon-Fernandez, Y.1, 1Cranfield University, UK, 2Anglian Water, UK |
| Anaerobic MBR bringing use to wastewater van ‘t Oever, R., PENTAIR X-Flow, The Netherlands |
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Delivering the next generation of AD plants
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AMP8 AND BEYOND |
| AMP 7 – How was it for you? Cherry, l., Severn Trent Water, UK |
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Building a resource recovery prioritisation tool for the UK and Ireland
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THICKENING, DEWATERING & LIQUOR TREATMENT |
| Anita™Mox: safe and robust sidestream treatment with low n2o emissions – full-scale experiences from conventional and advanced anaerobic digestion applications Falk Lingärde L.1, Skonieczny T.1, Morgan-Sagastume F.1, Langdon M.2, 1AnoxKaldnes, Sweden, 2Veolia Water Technologies, UK |
| ANAMMOX – 20 years’ experience and latest developments Driessen, W.1, Morales, J.A.,2, Verwij, D.3 and Went, C.4 1Paques Global bv, The Netherlands, 2Cadagua, Spain, 3Paques Europe, The Netherlands, 4Severn Trent Water, UK |
| Fast biosolids dewaterability assessment for evaluation and optimization purposes Mischler, J-F. and Mutlu, Y., Bucher Unipektin AG, Switzerland |
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Enhanced sludge dewatering and thickening performance with new decanter technology for a sustainable future
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CLOSING PLENARY TALK |
| What might we expect in the Final Determination? Richard Brindle, Head of Bioresources Strategy, United Utilities |