Heat from wastewater: Technology from UHRIG

An ingenious idea

Wherever many people live and industries are located, the demand for energy and heat is particularly high. At the same time, these are also the regions where a lot of energy is literally flushed down the drain: Because the water heated for households and industry is still warm when it enters the sewers. Why not continue to use this energy from the sewage system? A simple question that results in an ingenious idea!

What is particularly interesting from an economic point of view is that the source of energy and the demand for it coincide spatially, and thus short distances exist. Since heat recovery from wastewater is a recovery and not a new generation of heat, it requires significantly less additional energy input: less coal, less gas – less emissions. The calculation is so simple! If green electricity from renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics, wind power or hydropower is used to operate the required heat pump, there are even no CO2 emissions at all. The heat generated from wastewater is then completely climate-neutral.

The technology of heat recovery is thus climate-friendly and sustainable. It holds enormous potential for municipalities, energy suppliers and urban developers. This is all the more true as wastewater utilisation can also be used for cooling.

But heat from wastewater is not only used to heat or cool buildings. The energy generated can also be fed into heating grids. Thus, heat from wastewater also serves as an option for decarbonising district heating.

This is how it works

Energy recovery from wastewater is a heat pump technology. The technology is based on three steps:

1. Heat exchangers in the form of stainless steel modules provide constant energy. The modules can be installed in any larger sewer – without any problems and also retrofitted.
2. The thermal energy is transported into the building or to the heating network via the connection, i.e. a line from the sewer to the heating centre (e.g. a boiler room).
3. In the heating centre, a heat pump makes use of the energy obtained in the sewer for heating and feeds it into the heating circuit. Depending on the size of the system, the heat can even be delivered “off-site”. In this way, entire districts can be connected to the heating network.

© UHRIG

Successfully passed the practical test

UHRIG has since perfected the initial idea: For ten years now, we have been working on energy recovery from wastewater and developing high-quality wastewater heat exchangers. But it doesn’t stop at theory and development. We are also driving the heat transition forward in a very practical way: We produce and install our wastewater heat exchangers ourselves. There are already around 120 systems all over Europe. There our Therm-Liner work reliably and people are literally warming to them. In view of climate change, a rapid energy transition is urgently needed. UHRIG offers you an innovative approach, experience and technical know-how. Write or call us and find out how you too can benefit from heat recovery from wastewater!

Good reasons to choose Uhrig

Sustainability & Environmental protection

Sustainable and careful action is not just a cliche for us. We make bodies of water clean again and ensure that our groundwater always remains clean.

Experience & Know how

With over 55 years of experience in civil engineering and sewer construction, we know what is important in our complete solutions which are well thought out from start to finish, so that we can hand over a project that is ready for operation.

Innovation & Engagement

There is always an adjustment, that would enable us to do even better with our products. We therefore constantly work on innovations and improvements.