Willow, as a non-food crop, is well suited for the conversion of sewage sludge. For example, Nordic Biomass has worked together with Skagen Municipality, in Denmark, to establish energy forests for the conversion of sludge from their wastewater treatment plants. Sludge applicators have been developed that ensure odour-free sludge application. Both Swedish and Danish researchers have developed the process of sludge application in energy forests, but in practice, sludge application in energy forests currently follows the regulations for the application of sludge in conventional agriculture. The forests can still be harvested as woodchips, which can be used in heating plants or in parks and gardens. The Danish research institution, Skov og Landskab, has produced reports on sludge in energy forests. You can order these publications here. Scientific perspectives can be found in a number of publications from Sweden’s University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). A group of researchers at SLU have worked in detail with the combination of energy crops and wastewater. Research into energy forests in Sweden has been, and continues to be, unique from an international perspective (short presentation from SLU).
The latest example on a very
interesting publication on salix and
recycling of watewater and sludge
can be seen
here. |
