Technological requirements for SMEs on global water platform

Liam Curran, Enterprise Ireland,

Water: The Greatest Global Challenge Conference. DCU.

27th – 28th November 2014.

The Role of Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is the government organisation responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. We work in partnership with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales on global markets. In this way, we support sustainable economic growth, regional development and secure employment.

There are approximately 50 SMEs in the water/wastewater sector in Ireland, ranging from start-ups to 200+ employee companies.

EI has a strategic plan around the sector. Three staff dedicated to the sector: Technologist, Development Advisor,

Markets Advisor

Energy Efficient Technologies.

Smart Networks.

Capability to treating wastewater to point of reuse.

Resource Recovery from Wastewater.

What technologies do Irish SMEs in the sector need to be able to deliver?

Energy Efficiency

Power hungry sector! Potable water – pumping. Wastewater – pumping, aeration, sludge drying/disposal. Equipment/solutions must compete on Capex price, but also on whole

life Opex costs. Greater pump efficiencies/smart networks. Improved aeration technologies – micro (and nano!) bubbles. Do we need Activated Sludge?? Anaerobic Digestion? Improved sludge handling/disposal.

Smart Networks

Leak detection, no dig/in situ repair. (>40% UFW in Ireland!) Water Management in large industrial sites – Central Solutions. Remote monitoring/control of geographically dispersed plants. In tank monitoring of Activated Sludge Oxygen Uptake Rate. Remote monitoring of receiving waters.

Treating wastewater to the point of reuse.

Essential for water stress markets – Turkey, Middle East, etc. But also required closer to home by many large industrial water users,

particularly those in the food processing sector. Sometimes mandated by legislation, but increasingly being driven by

Corporate commitments and Voluntary Agreements. Requires capability in Membrane Technology – UF, RO, etc. Ireland

needs to develop it’s capability in this area.

Resource Recovery from Wastewater

Industrial product losses – ideally removed before treatment process. Grit. Screenings. FOG. Nutrients – P, N, etc. Metals. Heat. Energy; biogas, flow, etc. Sludge Water!!