The focus is on transforming industrial wastewater into a valuable resource rather than treating it as waste. The project centres on the process water pipeline at Port of Hirtshals, where fish processing companies discharge water generated from equipment cleaning.
The objective is to demonstrate how the water can be treated and reused by other local companies, reducing the need for groundwater extraction.
The project’s initial phase is conducted in laboratories at Aalborg University, where treatment of water from the process water pipeline is being tested using thermally driven membrane distillation – a technology with the potential to be both efficient and more climate-friendly than conventional methods.
The next step will be the establishment of a pilot facility at the Hirtshals Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2027. Here, the technology will be tested at a larger scale and under realistic operating conditions.
Thermally driven membrane distillation differs from conventional, chemical-intensive water treatment by having a lower CO₂ footprint. This means the solution not only contributes to improved resource utilization but can also reduce the climate impact of the participating companies.
The project is a concrete example of how collaboration between industry, utilities, and research can accelerate the green transition and promote a circular economy in practice.
SWaP-X (Sustainable Water for PtX) is financed by CO2Vision, which is part of Business Development Denmark and is supported by funding from the EU and the Danish Board of Business Development.