New InterLink: December 2022 edition

It is becoming increasingly obvious how much impact water has on the world’s supply challenges. Especially water and energy are strongly interlinked; energy extraction and generation requires water, and water supply depends on energy - and the demand for both is accelerating.

Conventional power plants are using vast amounts of water for cooling. If a given plant is situated near the coastline, sea water is usually used for the cooling process. If not, freshwater must be used and is therefore taken from other areas where it is needed – e.g. for drinking water purposes.

The practice of nuclear power generation has been discussed heavily in the midst of the ongoing energy crisis, as the process does not add to our CO2 emissions. But what is not mentioned is the heavy use of water for cooling. Who has not seen images of those distinctive, cone-shaped towers oozing with 
steam?

This evaporated water is lost for the next century, which is what meteorologist estimate that it takes for water to return to us in the form of rain. Yes, about 100 years.

The ongoing crisis has also shed extra light on a new dimension in the energy mix: Power-to-x.

Power-to-x is about establishing energy sources big enough to run a hydrolysis facility, which divides water into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen can be used directly in the natural gas network, or it can be converted into green fuels such as ammoniac (by adding CO2). A power-to-x process therefore also requires a lot of clean water, which will have to be considered in the creation of such facilities. But it is being suggested that treated wastewater can be used to feed the production, which makes perfectly good sense with water being a sparse resource in most parts of the world. And just as important: right now, 80% of all human-induced wastewater is discharged into Nature without any prior treatment.

A massive, on-going act of contamination, and as explained above, also a gigantic waste of potential. Left-over sludge from the treatment process can be used to generate electricity and heat, and the treated water can then be used to produce green fuels – what’s not to like?

In this edition you will find an interesting read about our valves being tested for hydrogen purposes, as well as a number of case stories about wastewater treatment plant being expanded and equipped with AVK products. The solutions are ready, we just need to make use of them.

Download your own copy of our magazine below. Enjoy reading.