Roche to use energy from wastewater

Published: 27-Sep-2010
Manufacturing Sustainability

Aquantis to build wastewater plant at Penzberg site

Roche Diagnostics is to build an anaerobic plant for the biological pre-treatment of a partial wastewater flow at its 350,000m2 Penzberg site in Upper Bavaria, Germany. The plant, which produces energy rich biogas, will supplement an existing membrane bioreactor system.

Aquantis, a German subsidiary of Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies based in Ratingen, will build the anaerobic plant for the pharmaceutical firm.

The new system will pre-treat carbon-rich partial wastewater flows as well as biologically degradable liquid waste from the bio-technological production. A 480m3 Biobed EGSB reactor (Expanded Granular Sludge Bed) will be used for the biological treatment. In the course of this process biogas is produced, collected and processed. It will be used in a combined heat and power plant in the Penzberg site boiler house to generate both forms of energy.

The amount of electricity gained will cover more than 90% of the energy requirements of the wastewater treatment plant, and the thermal energy will be used to pre-heat the boiler feedwater of the power station. Further savings will be achieved by eliminating the upstream aerobic high-load step. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by about 950 metric tons per year, substantially reducing Roche Penzberg’s carbon footprint.

Assembly of the anaerobic plant is planned for end of March 2011, with start-up in November 2011.

More than 500 Biobed reference plants have been installed worldwide, of which the Aquantis team has built 60. Roche says it chose a Biobed system because it is a proven process technology.

The Penzberg plant is one of the largest biotech centres in Europe. The site is also an important centre for development and production in healthcare diagnostics. Approximately 4,600 people are employed at the site.

  • Companies:
  • Veolia
  • Roche Group
See more

You may also like

Manufacturing

Veolia increases hazardous waste capacity with new regional facility

Read more
This includes services on the customer's site to help classify and package waste, the collection at the point of production and on-site transfer and consolidation

Trending Articles

  1. IMed Consultancy helps Toby Orthopaedics navigate UK regulations Regulatory consultancy ensures compliance and confidence for Miami-based company
  2. Aurobindo Pharma signs $25m respiratory drug development and commercialisation deal with global pharma company The companies will co-develop and commercialise respiratory therapeutics, diversifying Aurobindo's current portfolio
  3. Vetter strengthens senior management team for growth Three new managing directors to support global sustainable development
  4. Samsung Biologics bags $668 manufacturing deal with European pharmaceutical company The CDMO will be responsible for the manufacture of the client's biopharmaceuticals until December 2031

Upcoming event

CPhI Middle East

10–12 December 2024 | Conference | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia See all

You may also like

Manufacturing

Veolia increases hazardous waste capacity with new regional facility

This includes services on the customer's site to help classify and package waste, the collection at the point of production and on-site transfer and consolidation
Manufacturing

Veolia to host webinar on Cold Water for Injection (WFI)

Register to attend Veolia Water Technologies webinar on Cold WFI and how to manage the perceived risks associated with RO based systems for WFI production
Manufacturing

Tackling water for injection at Making Pharmaceuticals UK 2018

Veolia Water Technologies (Veolia), a global leader in optimised resource management, is delighted to be exhibiting at Making Pharmaceuticals UK on the 24 – 25 April 2018 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Manufacturing

Veolia’s scalable lab water purification range now available

Veolia Water Technologies’ PURELAB Chorus range of laboratory water purifiers provides a scaleable solution for laboratory water requirements
Manufacturing

Veolia Water Technologies UK merges divisions to support industry in managing water challenges

Veolia Water Technologies’ (Veolia) process water and waste water divisions have merged into a single organisation to better help organisations “rethink water”
Manufacturing

Squaring the circle – Veolia looks at water systems for the pharma sector

The pharmaceutical industry requires water of particular qualities for different applications. Kalpesh Shah, Veolia Water Technologies, takes a 360° look at water use and supply options and overall cost efficiencies
Manufacturing

Veolia extracts high purity water from difficult waste streams

Veolia launches high recovery reverse osmosis (RO) systems
Subscribe now