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[...]Berching, Germany At HUBER SE, the 3,000th RakeMax® screen has left the factory at the company’s headquarters in Berching. In the course of its almost 20-year success story, the RakeMax® has become the flagship among screening systems. The HUBER Multi-Rake Bar Screen RakeMax ® , firmly established in the market and first presented to the public at the International Trade Fair for Sewage Technology IFAT 2005, has meanwhile proven itself more than three thousand times on the worldwide market of wastewater technology due to its versatile application possibilities. The “anniversary machine” RakeMax® in its basic version in the main inlet of a wastewater treatment plant. The HUBER Multi-Rake Bar Screen RakeMax® HF with its cranked frame construction is almost indistinguishable from the proven basic RakeMax® machine from the outside. In the case of the RakeMax® J, the screen bars, which are curved towards the channel bottom, result in an overall larger cross-section of the screen through which the flow passes, which leads to lower hydraulic losses. HUBER Multi-Rake Bar Screen RakeMax® HF In the course of continuous development, another innovative screen type based on the successful RakeMax ® was already developed in 2010 in the field of influent screening: the cranked version of the multi-rake bar screen called RakeMax ® HF (High Flow). This screen version consists of a flat and therefore hydraulically very advantageous bottom screening section with a subsequent transition into a steep conveying section. Here, the positive characteristics of the proven RakeMax ® – reliable solids separation and high screenings discharge capacity – are combined with low hydraulic screen loss due to a large and effective bar rack surface of the screen. Due to the extremely flat inclination of the bar rack of 30°, the screen section through which the flow passes is always double the depth of the approaching flow. HUBER Multi-Rake Bar Screen RakeMax® J The HUBER RakeMax ® J is also a modified variant of the proven Multi-Rake Bar Screen RakeMax ® . In contrast to the standard version, the screen bars of the RakeMax ® J are not straight, but curved towards the bottom of the channel. The additional designation “J” is also derived from the shape of the bar rack, as the contour of the screen bars resembles the silhouette of this letter. The screen rake moves along the curvature of the screen bars and describes a segment of a circle in this section. The flat inclination of the rake bars directly in the bottom area results in an overall larger cross-section of the screen through which the flow passes, which leads to lower hydraulic losses as well as to a reduction of the flow velocity in the gaps between the screen bars. For the manufacture of the semi-circular curved screen bars, HUBER uses its many years of experience in the production and use of screens with curved screen bars, such as the well proven HUBER Fine Screen ROTAMAT ® Ro1. In this screen system, the curved bar rack is reliably cleaned in a comparable way by the screen cleaner rake with corresponding meshing teeth. With the two variants RakeMax ® HF and RakeMax ® J described above, disturbing deposits can already be absorbed by the rakes in the lower screen area thanks to the special design. This further optimises the functionality and ease of maintenance of the multi-rake bar screen. HUBER Multi-Rake Bar Screen RakeMax® CF For the first time presented at WEFTEC (Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference) 2019, the leading American trade fair for the water industry, another innovative screen type based on the successful RakeMax ® was introduced: the HUBER RakeMax ® CF (Center Flow) screen combines the advantages of the proven model with the positive features of a center flow screen. The HUBER Multi-Rake Bar Screen RakeMax® – modern screening system of the highest quality class The HUBER Multi-Rake Bar Screen RakeMax ® offers enormous potential in a wide range of applications due to its diverse application possibilities: the above-mentioned RakeMax ® models represent only an overview of the possibilities. One example of the continuous development and variability: the angle of installation. At the beginning of its “career”, the installation angle of the RakeMax ® was 75 to 80° – today it can be used with an angle of 50 to 85°. Its product features, advantages and the resulting application possibilities and solutions make the HUBER Multi-Rake Bar Screen RakeMax ® a modern screen of the highest quality. Thanks to its various designs, the RakeMax ® also opens up a very wide range of applications, enabling HUBER to respond even more individually to customer needs and structural and hydraulic conditions in the future. Despite all the enthusiasm for technology, one essential aspect of machine development must not be left out: user-friendliness. And in this respect, too, HUBER’s RakeMax ® impressively demonstrates that its individually configurable machines offer tailor-made solutions in the field of mechanical wastewater treatment.[...]

[...]At a Wastewater treatment works in the North of England the Q-PRESS® trial rig is performing well and producing excellent preliminary results. Initial indications seem to point to the Q-PRESS® outperforming a different technology that was previously trialed on the same site. Our process development engineer, Jason Sims, will be posting more about this once the results are finalised. The site operator is extremely pleased with the performance of the Q-PRESS® trial rig and has commented on the simple operation and low maintenance aspects. Once the trials are complete and the report has been issued to the customer, we will be able to provide data and a testimonial.[...]

[...]The HUBER ROTAMAT ® family is the foundation on which HUBER SE started its development in wastewater technology. On this basis, the company has been able to grow and develop continuously. With over 30 different machine types in mechanical pre-treatment alone, HUBER SE has developed into a globally operating company. Nevertheless, the ROTAMAT ® machines remain an important cornerstone of HUBER SE and now demonstrate that this system is still outstanding, especially in large projects with screen basket diameters of over 2 metres. The efficiency and reliability of the ROTAMAT ® technology is even evident in demanding applications and the technology continues to prove its worth in wastewater treatment. HUBER Rotary Drum Fine Screen ROTAMAT ® Ro2 impresses in Austria and Colombia With a dry weather inflow of 103,600 m 3 per day, the Salzburg-Siggerwiesen municipal wastewater treatment plant is the largest in the province of Salzburg. The plant has been in operation since 1986 and in 2023 they installed the fourth generation of intake screens. After detailed considerations, the management of the wastewater treatment plant finally decided in favour of two HUBER Rotary Drum Fine Screen ROTAMAT ® Ro2 units with a screen basket diameter of 2.6 m and a bar spacing of 3 mm. In spring 2023, the perforated plate screens from 2009 were removed and replaced by the new screens. These fit exactly into the two existing channels and have now been convincing for over a year with low maintenance and high separation performance. Especially the use of the air knife in combination with a permanently installed high-pressure cleaning system offers several advantages. The air knife cleans the screen basket of the Ro2 with a certain air pressure and thus saves the use of the spray nozzle bar installed as standard. Only the high-pressure cleaning system uses water at a pressure of 120 bar every three operating hours to intensively clean the screen basket. The use of these two components therefore saves both water and the maintenance time and costs for manual cleaning. The HUBER Rotary Drum Fine Screen ROTAMAT ® Ro2 is also used in the Barranquilla wastewater treatment plant in Colombia. HUBER sold the first Ro2 unit with a diameter of 2.6 m and a bar spacing of 2 mm back in 2017. It treats a wastewater flow of 934 l/s and convinced the customer. This is demonstrated above all by the fact that this year the extension of the plant was also awarded to HUBER SE after the competition was not convincing. Two more Ro2s of the same size will therefore be delivered next year and will thus continue to ensure wastewater treatment there. Not only the HUBER Rotary Drum Fine Screen ROTAMAT ® Ro2 units are convincing. The ROTAMAT ® STAR and ROTAMAT ® RPPS screens show how flexible the ROTAMAT ® concept is and how it can be utilised in other fields of application. Pre-screening of wastewater upstream of membrane systems in the USA Pre-screening the wastewater before it goes through a membrane system plays a crucial role in water treatment and is becoming increasingly important in the USA. Its main aim is to protect downstream membrane systems and improve the efficiency of water treatment. At the same time, it relieves the downstream treatment stages and reduces maintenance costs. Various HUBER technologies are used for pre-screening, including the ROTAMAT ® STAR and RPPS screens. Similar to the ROTAMAT ® Ro2 screen, these machines combine the functions of screening, washing, discharging, compacting and dewatering in one compact and robust unit. In contrast to the ROTAMAT ® Ro2, however, the ROTAMAT ® STAR and RPPS are equipped with a perforated plate screen. This enables two-dimensional screening, which ensures a higher separation efficiency. The screen basket of the ROTAMAT ® RPPS has an aperture width of at least 1.5 mm, which already makes it suitable for membrane pre-screening. If even finer screening is required, the folded screen basket of the ROTAMAT® STAR can be used. This can be designed with a hole diameter of 1 mm and thus enables even finer separation. In addition, the screening surface is increased, which leads to a higher flow rate due to the star-shaped folding of the screen basket. In the USA, these two machine types have proven their worth in membrane pre-screening over the last two years. As in Salzburg-Siggerwiesen, the large machines are now also being used there. Both the ROTAMAT ® RPPS with a hole diameter of 2 mm and four machines are being used in one project, as well as the ROTAMAT ® STAR with two machines and a hole diameter of 1 mm. Two further orders were landed in the USA last year. ROTAMAT ® STAR with a basket diameter of 2.0 m and ROTAMAT ® RPPS with a diameter of 2.2 m are being used to protect the membranes. Another special feature of the two orders is that these machines are manufactured entirely at the HUBER Technology, Inc. production site in Denver, North Carolina and therefore directly in the USA. From West to East: major projects are in Asia HUBER ROTAMAT ® machines have proven themselves not only in America, but also in South Korea and India, leading to major projects. In South Korea, a total of 30 ROTAMAT ® STAR units with a screen basket diameter of 3 metres and a hole width of 1 mm for fine screening of wastewater will be supplied. Customers in India are also impressed. A project for a sewage treatment plant is in the pipeline there, which will be equipped with ten of the largest ROTAMAT ® STAR screens. These have a screen basket diameter of 3 metres and a hole width of 2 mm. It is gratifying to see how this technology, with which HUBER started its entry into the wastewater technology business, is now contributing to efficient wastewater treatment worldwide.[...]

[...]The combined sewer tunnel in Lisbon is a state-of-the-art infrastructure project that protects the city from flooding caused by heavy rainfall and drains urban wastewater during dry weather periods. In the past, extreme rainfall of up to 60 mm per hour repeatedly caused considerable damage in lower-lying districts of the city. The Túnel Monsanto-Santa Apolónia, the so-called ‘mega tunnel’, is the city administration's largest construction project to date and a central component of the urban climate adaptation strategy. With a length of exactly 4,975 metres and an internal diameter of 5.5 metres, the tunnel was designed to handle water volumes of up to 40 cubic metres per second. This corresponds to around 2.4 million litres per minute or the capacity of 16 Olympic swimming pools within 60 seconds. Efficient water drainage through hydraulic optimisation The system begins in the higher-lying areas of the city, where specially developed inlet structures with a hydraulic capacity of 200 cubic metres per minute collect surface water. A branched network of collection pipes transports the water together with local wastewater to the main tunnel with minimal energy loss. The flow velocity reaches up to 5.2 metres per second, ensuring efficient drainage without backwater and sedimentation. The final outlets are strategically located in the immediate vicinity of the River Tagus and have been designed so as not to interfere with the natural currents of the river. A special energy dissipation system reduces the flow velocity of the discharged water to prevent erosion of the banks. Engineering challenges and construction method The tunnel's construction incorporates state-of-the-art engineering techniques to ensure stability, durability and minimal impact on the surrounding urban structure. During the construction phase, complex geological challenges were overcome, including the crossing of a wide variety of rock layers and minimising the impact on existing buildings and transport routes. Prefabricated reinforced concrete segments were used to stabilise the tunnel wall. Reliable and efficient machine technology from HUBER for combined sewer water screening A central component of the tunnel system is a multi-stage combined sewer water screening system, which prevents coarse contaminants from entering the River Tagus by returning the retained screenings to the local sewer system. The system essentially consists of the following HUBER machines: 12x HUBER Storm Screen ROTAMAT® RoK1 6x HUBER Screw Conveyor Ro8 T 1 HUBER Launder Channel HLC The complete solution from HUBER will ensure efficient retention and removal of particles larger than 6 mm in the future. Two-dimensional screening by the HUBER RoK1 reliably removes organic and inorganic solids such as leaves, plastic waste and sediments before the water is discharged into the river. The downstream screw conveyors then transport the concentrated screenings from the RoK1 to the launder channel, which is used to discharge the screenings from the system. This measure significantly improves water quality and protects the ecological balance in the Tagus. Sustainability and long-term impact Depending on rainfall intensity, the planned annual volume of water that can be diverted through the tunnel is up to 25 million cubic metres. This enormous capacity will significantly reduce the risk of flooding in Lisbon, particularly in districts such as Baixa and Alfama, which have been badly affected in the past. Modern engineering technology and sustainable urban planning This major technological project not only represents a milestone for the city, it also sets new standards in urban flood prevention. With increasing weather extremes as a result of climate change, the rainwater tunnel shows how modern engineering technology and sustainable urban planning can be successfully combined.[...]

[...]Floods are a growing and serious threat. With rising sea levels and increasing weather extremes, the frequency and intensity of flooding is increasing worldwide. These natural disasters not only endanger human lives, but also cause considerable damage to infrastructure, property and the environment. Given this reality, it is crucial to take flood prevention measures and implement solutions such as flood-proof doors to minimise the risk and impact of flooding. HUBER Flood-Proof Exterior Door TT6 HUBER has focussed its attention on the development of flood resistant doors and already has a product in its portfolio that meets these requirements: The HUBER Flood-Proof Exterior Door TT6 This door is designed to withstand up to 2 metres of water column, which corresponds to a pressure of 0.2 bar. This remarkable feature makes the door extremely resistant to the challenges associated with flooded environments. The specific design of the door makes it possible to effectively withstand the water pressure and thus protect the environment inside. Continuous optimisation HUBER is currently in an active phase of continuous optimisation of its flood-proof doors. A central focus here is on improving user-friendliness. The company is doing everything in its power to ensure that the door not only fulfils the highest safety requirements but is also extremely practical and easy to use. This focussed effort to increase the usability of the flood resistant door demonstrates HUBER's commitment to creating solutions that are not only effective but also practical and user-friendly. This not only improves protection against flooding but also optimises the everyday use of the door.[...]

[...]The new HUBER Disc Dryer RotaDry® completes the HUBER product portfolio for sewage sludge drying with contact drying. In combination with a sewage sludge mono-incineration plant, the disc dryer dries the sewage sludge to the ideal TR content and is thus optimally suited for utilisation in fluidized bed incineration plants. The HUBER Disc Dryer RotaDry® is designed for homogeneous partial drying of dewatered sewage sludge. It can dry exactly to the required TR content, thus enabling self-sustaining incineration in the fluidized bed incinerator. The HUBER RotaDry® is available in different sizes so that water evaporation of two to six tons per hour and dryer can be achieved. By using different disc diameters and numbers of discs, the dryer surface can be optimally adapted to the amount of generated sludge and the disc dryer can be operated in the ideal capacity range.[...]

[...]HUBER extends its product portfolio by a contact dryer for sewage sludge HUBER SE has expanded its range of sewage sludge dryers by adding a disc dryer to its future product portfolio. This dryer is based on the principle of contact drying and convinces by its compact design compared to other drying systems. Especially in combination with fluidized bed incineration systems, the HUBER Disc Dryer RotaDry® is the ideal addition to the overall process of a sewage sludge incineration plant. The strength of the disc dryer lies in the efficient, homogeneous and compact partial drying of sewage sludge. Due to its optimized design, a high specific water evaporation related to the disc surface is possible. Combined with a small footprint, this results in a high evaporation of water per dryer on a small area. The dryer can dry exactly to the required DR content and thus enable a self-sustaining combustion in the fluidized bed furnace. Costly and wear-intensive backmixing, as required for full drying, is no longer necessary. Steam from the power generation turbine serves as heat source for dryer heating. Thus, this waste heat can also be used energetically in a sensible way. The HUBER RotaDry® is available in different sizes, so that water evaporation of two to six tons per hour and dryer can be achieved. By using different disc diameters and numbers of discs, the dryer surface can be optimally adapted to the amount of generated sludge and the dryer can be operated in the ideal capacity range. Basic design of the disc dryer From a sludge bunker, the sludge is delivered to the dryer by a pump, and there falls through an opening into the cylindrical dryer body. Inside the dryer, between 40 and 64 hollow discs are welded onto a rotor. Saturated steam streams through the discs and heats them. The steam comes from the turbine, which generates electricity from the heat generated during combustion. Before entering the dryer, the steam must be conditioned so that it flows into the interior of the rotor as saturated steam. On the disc surfaces, the vapour reaches its condensation temperature. The rotor is driven by a gear motor, the speed of which can be changed by a frequency converter. Dewatered sludge is normally supplied with a DR of 20 - 30%. The sludge heats up in the dryer, and the evaporation of water increases the drying degree of the sewage sludge. The (partially) dried sewage sludge leaves the dryer with 40 - 45% DR via the discharge screw. The vapour dome serves to draw off the water vapour produced. In a condenser, the condensation heat of the vapour can be partially recovered and fed into a district heating network, for example. Another possibility is the use of a spray condenser, in which the thin sludge can be preheated, thus reducing the polymer consumption for the centrifuge. Vapour condensate treatment has a special part to play. As a result of the high contact temperature on the discs, the condensate contains an increased load of particulate and dissolved COD and an increased ammonium content. There is a difference here between dryers on sewage treatment plant sites and on power plant sites. While on a wastewater treatment plant, the vapour condensate stream can usually be fed to the wastewater treatment process if the process engineering allows it, this possibility does not exist on power plant sites. Before the condensate can be fed via the sewerage system to a municipal sewage treatment plant, it must be cleaned. Using own well-proven technology, HUBER has developed an innovative process that uses mechanical filtration, adsorption and stripping. The condensate is purified to such an extent that it can be discharged into the wastewater while complying with the required limit values. A new and yet proven dryer complements the HUBER product portfolio Disc dryers have been used in conjunction with sewage sludge incineration plants since the 1980s. Especially in large municipal incineration plants the technology is "state-of-the-art". Some of the dryers have been running reliably for over 30 years. Durable and convincing quality thus ideally fits HUBER's corporate mission statement. Partial drying of sewage sludge for self-sustaining incineration will thus in future be covered by the RotaDry® disc dryer within the HUBER product family. Now, in addition to the HUBER Belt Dryer BT (convective drying with hot air) and the HUBER Solar Sewage Sludge Dryer with the HUBER Sludge Turner SOLSTICE® (drying with solar energy by radiation and convection), the customer has a third option, namely heat transfer by contact with the HUBER Disc Dryer RotaDry®. With these different drying techniques, HUBER as a system supplier is able to advise its customers in the best possible way to meet their specific needs. Outlook Due to the Waste Sewage Sludge Ordinance adopted in Germany in 2017, the need for new sewage sludge mono-incineration plants is growing. It is becoming apparent that other European countries are also tightening their regulations, thus creating the conditions for sustainable sewage sludge disposal in the respective countries. The international interest in a compact contact dryer for partial drying of sewage sludge is rising. Summary With the RotaDry® disc dryer, HUBER has put the missing piece of the puzzle into the overall process of thermal sewage sludge utilisation. Thermal drying is an indispensable process component to ensure the sewage sludge has the right dry content and to remove the part of the water that cannot be separated mechanically. The mono-incineration of the sewage sludge achieves an enormous volume and mass reduction and provides for the possibility of phosphorus recovery. At the same time, thermal sludge utilization produces electricity and provides the necessary heat for the drying process. A reliable condensate removal system , an innovative control system , an optimised feed and a pressure loss reducing steam control system make the HUBER Disc Dryer RotaDry® the perfect sewage sludge dryer for subsequent incineration. We would be pleased to advise you individually, and you are also welcome to send your inquiry to sludge@huber.de ![...]

[...]Germany HUBER offers more than just machines; we provide tailor-made solutions for complex challenges. Our pre-sales services support industrial customers throughout the entire process, from initial contact to final implementation, with a particular focus on flotation, sludge dewatering and screening. The focus is on individual adaptations that meet each customer's specific requirements. Early insights through in-depth laboratory analyses In our laboratory and during on-site analyses and tests, we examine processes such as flotation, sludge dewatering and screening to check the feasibility and suitability of solutions at an early stage. These laboratory analyses provide valuable insights that pave the way for a tailor-made solution. Practical tests with pilot plants under real conditions In addition to laboratory testing, we offer customers the opportunity to test machinery and process technology on site under real conditions using our pilot plants. Our experts supervise the entire process, working closely with water treatment chemical manufacturers to achieve optimal results. This gives customers the opportunity to experience the technology first-hand and verify its practical suitability. Planning reliability through well-thought-out process concepts We support our customers with more than just installation drawings and plans; we also support them in planning the entire process by developing P&ID (Process and Instrumentation Diagram) diagrams that clearly show all relevant interfaces and modes of operation. This allows efficient optimisation of the planning process and precise tailoring of the solution to the requirements. From idea to sustainable solution Our goal is to provide comprehensive solutions, from initial feasibility analyses to final implementation. We collaborate closely with customers and planning offices to ensure the solution is technically and practically suitable and can be sustainably integrated into operational processes. As an experienced partner, HUBER will ensure the solution is implemented efficiently and continues to function effectively in the long term.[...]

[...]Ceremonial award of the prizes endowed with EUR 10,000 in the Berching town hall by Bavarian Environment Minister Dr. Marcel Huber. The mechanical, chemical and thermal energy in wastewater can contribute a substantial share to the use of renewable energy. Moreover, even the "waste" produced on sewage treatment plants is increasingly used as basis material for the production of valuable substances. This issue therefore was made the subject of this year’s international Huber Technology Prize 2014: Resources and Energy from Wastewater. A lot of students from Germany and abroad submitted their ideas, proposals and elaborate project works. It was not easy for the jury to choose the winners from the numerous candidates, but finally Prof. Dr. Wilderer (TU Munich, Institute for Advanced Study), Dr. Drewes (TU Munich), Dr. Bischof (University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden) and Dr. Grienberger (Chief Technology & Innovation Officer of HUBER SE) made their choice. In an official ceremony at the Berching town hall on 28 July 2014 the winners were announced and the prizes awarded to them by Bavarian Environment Minister Dr. Marcel Huber after the invited guest had been welcomed by Ludwig Eisenreich, mayor of Berching, and Willibald Gailler, head of the district authority as well as by Georg Huber, CEO of HUBER SE. Bavarian Environment Minister Marcel Huber pointed out that wastewater is a heat and energy source that will gain in importance in the future and a liquid raw material that must increasingly be utilised. In order to tap into the unused potential of discharged water the Bavarian Environment Ministry supports the practical implementation of innovative technologies and ideas. In Bad Abbach, Bavaria, for example, a pilot project for the energetic optimisation of smaller sewage treatment plants is currently carried out. The project is not only of regional importance but meaningful across the whole of Bavaria. Due to oxygen-free sewage sludge stabilisation biogas is generated. Two third of the power demand on site can be covered with this biogas. Prof. Dr. Wilderer explained the spirit and purpose of the Huber Technology Foundation and why the competition has for the first time been split into two categories, namely 'students' and 'doctoral researchers'. In his laudatory speech Prof. Dr. Bischof announced that two winners per category have been selected due to the high quality papers submitted by the competition participants. In the category 'doctoral reseachers' the prize money of € 2,500 went to Ms. Sabine Sané from Freiburg (Germany) and Mr. Quilin Wang from Brisbane, Australia. Ms. Sané is a doctoral student of the research group for bioelectrochemical systems at the Institute for Microsystems Technology of the Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg. In her paper "Energy-efficient removal of micro pollutants from wastewaters with hybrid microbial/enzymatic bioelectrical systems" she presented a bioelectrochemical system for the removal of micro pollutants. Her concept is highly innovative and takes up several ideas some of which have already been investigated individually and separately (enzymatic degradation of trace substances using fungi, electrochemical degradation of trace substances and energy generation). From the point of view of conventional wastewater technology, modern interdisciplinary issues are raised and combined with each other. Her idea shows new ways that are very interesting under scientific aspects and could stand for a real change in wastewater treatment. Qilin Wang, doctoral student at the Advanced Water Management Centre of the University of Queensland in Brisbane describes an approach how to improve the energy balance of a sewage treatment plant with the use of nitrous acid. His concept for an economical sludge treatment appears very innovative, well thought out and feasible in practice. Mr. Wang has proven individual steps of the described process by own preliminary studies. In the category 'students' the prize money of € 2,500 went to Ms. Alexandra Fumasoli from Switzerland and a team of two students from the University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden, Ms. Barbara Eschlbeck and Mr. Dominik Peter. Alexandra Fumasoli from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technolgy in Dübendorf describes a possibility how to produce in a simple way struvit (plant fertilizer) from urine with the use of an electrode and in this way recover the precious phosphate. Her idea is highly innovative and could represent a good solution for decentralized applications, also on a smaller scale. Barbara Eschlbeck and Dominik Peter, both students in the Master's degree course 'Environmental Technologies' at the University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden, convinced the jury with their topic 'Integration of a sewage treatment plant into the energy turnaround; MembraneBioReactor and power-to-gas – a combination with a future'. They describe a very innovative idea which represents a useful addition under the aspect of the energy turnaround and the resulting oversupply of electricity ('much wind and much sun at the same time') as well as under the aspect of wastewater treatment. Also the combination with modern membrane treatment systems and the use of permeate as basic product for electrolysis is very innovative. After the official award ceremony all winners and guests got together to enjoy a 'Bavarian buffet' in the assembly room of the town hall to conclude the evening in an informal atmosphere. The word "wastewater" is commonly associated with a negative image. It can sicken people, spread unpleasant odours and contaminate the environment. To avoid such negative effects and support the natural water cycle without damaging the environment, wastewater is treated. Wastewater has been treated under this aspect for many years, partly for decades. But not much specific attention has been paid to the individual substances contained within wastewater and not much has been done to utilize the great potential of wastewater as a resource, apart from reusing the nutrients contained. Climate change and the growing world population are however leading to a paradigm shift. For wastewater as a sink of all civilisation activities includes more than only water and nutrients. Rare earths, metals of limited availability and valuable elements are frequently contained within the wastewater generated in different fields of industry and in municipalities. The Huber Technology Prize motivates young scientists and students to go new ways for the benefit of our environment.[...]

[...]Munich, Germany On 18th October, Bavarian Economics Minister Zeil handed over the Bavarian Energy Awards 2012. HUBER SE received an award as first place winner in the category Energy Concepts and Initiatives for the innovativ and responsible use of energy. Bavarian Economics Minister Martin Zeil described the prize winning projects as ‘outstanding developments for an innovation-oriented energy turnaround’. The CO 2 -saving project ‘Thermal heat from sewers‘, which HUBER SE implemented in cooperation with the city of Straubing and GFM Ingenieure GmbH, supplies approximately 65% of the heat demand of 102 apartments, which is nearly 350,000 kWh per year. These savings are made possible by a special technical process: A special heat exchanger extracts the heat from the wastewater, which is warm water from showers, bathtubs, washing machines or kitchen sinks which flows into the sewer. A heat pump adjusts the temperature of the extracted wastewater heat to the temperature required to heat the apartments. Compared to geothermal energy and groundwater heat the wastewater heat solution provide high temperatures of at least 12 °C during the whole year. HUBER early recognised that the heat potential in wastewater is a precious energy source and developed at their headquarters and production in Berching the ThermWin system installed on STP Straubing. The heart of this innovative development is the RoWin Heat Exchanger. The RoWin Heat Exchanger is in direct contact with the municipal wastewater, despite all the pollutants contained within the wastewater. The engineers of HUBER SE have developed a self-cleaning method for the RoWin Heat Exchanger to ensure maximum heat transfer results are achieved and the economic efficiency of the complete system can be guaranteed. The project has been in operation since the icy winter in 2010 and convinced with a reliable heat supply already in the first year. HUBER SE received the Bavarian Energy Award mainly due to the use of regenerative energy sources and the resulting CO 2 savings of approximately 70 tons. The first Bavarian Energy Award was presented in 1999. Since 2000, the ceremony takes place every two years. The award winners are nominated in a multi-stage selection procedure by an independent jury of energy experts from several Bavarian universities.[...]