Can Winery Wastewater be Turned into Renewable Energy?
As wineries face increasing environmental regulations and aim to lower their footprints, effective wastewater management is becoming a priority. Converting winery wastewater into renewable energy offers a practical solution for meeting these regulatory requirements while managing waste sustainably. This blog explains how to turn wastewater into a valuable energy source, outlines the benefits and challenges of this approach and reviews the wastewater treatment solutions that can help your winery remain compliant with environmental standards.
How is winery wastewater turned into renewable energy?
Converting winery wastewater into renewable energy involves several stages, each of which is designed to efficiently harness organic waste and generate energy.
The process begins with wastewater collected from winemaking operations, which includes organic materials like grape skins, seeds and stems. The first stage is pre-treatment, where large solids and debris are removed to prepare the wastewater for further processing.
In the anaerobic digestion phase, the pre-treated wastewater is transferred into a sealed environment, where naturally occurring bacteria convert the organic matter into biogas. This biological process occurs without oxygen, and produces a biogas primarily composed of methane and carbon dioxide. This biogas can then be captured and used to generate electricity or heat. Further refinement transforms it into renewable natural gas, which provides a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.
To further enhance energy recovery, an additional method can be deployed that involves microbial electrolysis cells. The microbial electrolysis cells consist of one stainless steel cathode and a carbon anode, through which winery wastewater flows in a continuous flow system. When combined with the application of electrical energy use, the system produces hydrogen gas. This clean hydrogen gas can be stored and utilised in a hydrogen fuel cell, which means that the wastewater generates renewable hydrogen energy alongside the biogas output.
Following anaerobic digestion, the remaining digestate is processed and stabilised until it is suitable for use as a nutrient-rich fertiliser. This fertiliser can be returned to vineyards and other agricultural land, and thereby support sustainable practices.
By integrating anaerobic digestion and microbial electrolysis systems, wineries can produce both biogas and hydrogen. In turn, this can reduce their dependency on fossil fuels and promote renewable energy generation.
What are the challenges of winery wastewater?
There are several challenges associated with the treatment of winery wastewater. These are:
- High organic load: Winery wastewater tends to contain a high concentration of organic materials, such as sugars, acids and alcohols, which complicate the treatment process. Advanced technologies are required to effectively break down these organic compounds and prevent environmental issues like oxygen depletion in receiving water bodies.
- Seasonal variability: The quantity and quality of winery wastewater fluctuate throughout the year, with production peaks during harvest and winemaking seasons. This variability can overwhelm treatment systems during high production periods, causing inefficiencies in energy recovery and treatment performance.
- Initial investment: Setting up anaerobic digesters and other advanced wastewater treatment systems demands a considerable upfront investment. For smaller wineries, this cost can be a challenge. However, over time, energy savings and the environmental benefits may offset these initial expenses.
- Maintenance and management: Anaerobic digestion and other wastewater technologies require specialised operations and regular maintenance. Winery owners must dedicate resources to managing these systems properly, including monitoring microbial activity and adjusting system parameters to optimise biogas production and meet environmental standards. This includes those set by the Environment Agency (EA) in the UK, which govern water discharge quality and pollution prevention.
- Unless these responsibilities are entrusted to a specialist wastewater management company such as Universal Tankers, winery owners should be prepared for the significant upfront investment needed to set up anaerobic digesters.
Winery wastewater treatment solutions
Wineries need reliable solutions to manage and treat their wastewater in order to meet EA regulations. At Universal Tankers, we provide customised wastewater treatment services specifically designed to meet the needs of the winemaking industry. Here is how we can support your operations:
Effluent disposal and compliance
Treated winery effluent must comply with strict environmental regulations before discharge. We provide comprehensive solutions that address effluent disposal while adhering to legislation such as the UK’s Water Resources Act 1991, which governs water pollution control, and The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, which set out requirements for permits related to wastewater discharge.
Our services include the safe and lawful disposal of treated wastewater that meets the required chemical, biological, and physical quality standards. We monitor factors like pH levels, biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids to align with permit conditions set by the EA. This helps wineries avoid potential breaches of environmental law, which could lead to fines or operational restrictions.
On-site wastewater treatment systems
For wineries producing large volumes of wastewater, installing an on-site treatment system can simplify waste management. We can supply and install advanced systems capable of handling both high-strength and lower-strength wastewater streams independently. This approach improves treatment efficiency and helps maintain compliance with environmental standards.
Anaerobic digestion services
We specialise in anaerobic digestion, a method that transforms organic waste into renewable energy. Our services cover the installation and upkeep of anaerobic digesters, which break down organic material in oxygen-free environments to generate biogas. This biogas can be used to power winery operations, lower energy costs and help wineries to meet regulatory thresholds.
Pre-treatment and screening
We offer screening and sedimentation services to remove large solids and debris, which prepares the wastewater for subsequent stages. This step boosts the efficiency of the treatment system and allows wineries to process wastewater more effectively.
Customised wastewater management plans
We understand that no two wineries have the same wastewater challenges. That is why we create tailored wastewater management plans designed to streamline treatment processes, enhance system efficiency, and reduce the environmental impact of each specific business. These plans align with local and national regulations to provide wineries with a sustainable approach to managing wastewater.
Contact Us
For more information on how our services can benefit your winery, get in touch by calling 0800 180 4474 (England and Wales) or 01236 444322 (Scotland), or fill out the contact form on this page to arrange a time for us to call you back.
