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KREIS – Innovative municipal wastewater system in ‘Jenfelder Au’

The innovative drainage and energy-generating concept HAMBURG WATER Cycle is being implemented in a new urban district of the city. ISOE is analysing the scheme in terms of user behaviour and sustainability.

The innovative drainage and energy-generating concept HAMBURG WATER Cycle is being implemented in a new urban district of the city. ISOE is analysing the scheme in terms of user behaviour and sustainability.

Research approach

A new urban district, ‘Jenfelder Au’, comprising around 770 new residential units, is being developed in Hamburg on the site of former military barracks. The new wastewater concept foresees the separate draining of the toilet sewage (black water) as well as that of other domestic wastewater (grey water). Coupled to this is an innovative energy-generating concept.

The goal of the KREIS co-operative project is to provide preparatory surveys to support the planning and construction process along with the actual starting up of the technical systems by HAMBURG WASSER. Upon completion, the partners will continue to provide scientific operational back-up. The anticipated outcome is an assembly of valuable insights and experiences that can be utilised both on site and for similar implementations.

ISOE is responsible for the socio-technical analysis of user behaviour in this context and for conducting a socio-ecological sustainability analysis.

Background

The intention is that the grey water be treated in a semi-centralised energy-saving process and then released into the receiving waters. The black water is captured in concentrated form by means of vacuum technology and treated in an anaerobic reactor together with organic waste (co-substrates). The sewage gas produced during this process is transformed into electricity and heat in a combined heat and power plant. High-grade soil-improvement and fertiliser products can be made from the waste from the anaerobic reactor (digestates). Geothermal heat pumps and solar thermal power systems supply the urban district with renewable energy from the use of sewage gas.

Project partners

  • Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
  • Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe
  • Solar- und Wärmetechnik Stuttgart, ein Forschungszentrum der Steinbeis-Stiftung (STW)
  • Öko-Institut e.V.
  • Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg

Practice partners

  • HAMBURG WASSER
  • Buhck Umweltservices GmbH & Co. KG
  • CONSULAQUA Hamburg GmbH
  • infranova Bauentwicklungs GmbH & Co. KG Flintenbreite Lübeck
  • OtterWasser GmbH
  • Vacusatec Vacuum Sanitärtechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Funding

Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Project Infos

Started:
Expires:

Publications on the project

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Current Publications

Water
Focustopic 2025

Water —

What impact does climate change have on our water resources? Is water scarcity also a threat in Germany? What challenges does the water industry face?

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