In the heart of Germany, at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, a groundbreaking study is challenging the status quo of the wastewater industry. Led by Andrea Lück from the Bauhaus-Institute for Future Infrastructure Solutions, the research is paving the way for a more sustainable and economically viable future for wastewater management. The findings, published in the journal ‘Cleaner Water’ (translated from German), could revolutionize how we think about wastewater, turning it from a burden into a valuable resource.
For decades, wastewater management has been primarily about disposal and treatment, with little focus on the resources hidden within. But what if we could extract value from wastewater? What if we could turn it into a profitable venture? This is the question that Lück and her team have been exploring, and their answers could reshape the energy and water sectors.
The key lies in resource-oriented sanitation systems (ROSS). These innovative systems can recover valuable resources from wastewater, such as nutrients, energy, and even clean water. However, despite their potential, ROSS have remained a niche innovation, largely overlooked by the mainstream wastewater industry. Lück’s research aims to change that by introducing a shift in perspective for wastewater companies.
“Wastewater companies need to start seeing themselves not just as service providers, but as resource managers,” Lück explains. “They need to identify marketable products within wastewater and develop business models around them.”
To achieve this, Lück and her team have developed 11 distinct business models for ROSS products using the Business Model Canvas framework. Each model considers the demand for wastewater products and the technical systems needed to produce them. One of these models is highlighted in the study to illustrate the entire development process, showcasing how sustainable principles can be integrated into wastewater and waste management solutions.
The implications of this research are vast. For the energy sector, ROSS could provide a new source of renewable energy. Biogas, for instance, can be produced from wastewater and used to generate electricity or heat. This could help energy companies meet their renewable energy targets while also reducing their carbon footprint.
Moreover, the recovery of nutrients from wastewater could help address the global challenge of food security. Nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, which are essential for plant growth, can be extracted from wastewater and used as fertilizers. This could reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers, which are energy-intensive to produce and contribute to environmental pollution.
The development of ROSS business models also addresses the critical role of business models in the transition to more sustainable practices. By demonstrating the economic viability of ROSS, Lück’s research could help these niche innovations enter the mainstream, bringing about a sustainability transition in the wastewater industry.
However, the journey from niche innovation to mainstream adoption is not without challenges. Lück acknowledges that there is a lack of scientific studies that systematically demonstrate business models based on ROSS products. This is where her research comes in, providing a comprehensive development of ROSS business models and highlighting the integration of sustainable principles in wastewater and waste management solutions.
As we look to the future, Lück’s research offers a glimpse into a world where wastewater is not a problem to be disposed of, but a resource to be managed. A world where wastewater companies are not just service providers, but resource managers. A world where the energy and water sectors are more sustainable and economically viable. This is not just a dream, but a possibility that is within our reach. And with researchers like Andrea Lück leading the way, we are one step closer to making this possibility a reality.