Benidorm will request a grant to improve the sludge line of the wastewater treatment plant and increase biogas production

Benidorm City Council will request a grant from the Regional Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Innovation and Trade to optimise the performance of the sludge line at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) through the integration of advanced biotechnology and artificial intelligence. The request falls under the call for proposals to promote innovation projects within the 2026 "Innovative Territories" Development Plan.

The project, called "Benidorm Bioboost," has a budget of €149,956.32 and aims to improve the production and quality of the biogas generated at the plant, as well as the dewatering capacity of the sludge. Ultimately, as explained by José Ramón González de Zárate, Councillor for the Water Cycle, "the goal is to make the entire process more efficient, since optimising the sludge line is a key driver for both the economic efficiency and the environmental sustainability of the WWTP."

The councillor pointed out that the facility has been the subject of “continuous optimisation studies,” which have revealed that “there is still potential for improvement in the sludge treatment line.” In this regard, it has been determined that anaerobic digestion and dewatering “are stages of the treatment process that can be addressed to increase the wastewater treatment plant's energy self-sufficiency, reduce the amount of sludge produced, and improve its quality.”

González de Zárate explained that one of the wastewater treatment plant's processes is removing sludge from the wastewater. “This is done through processes that gradually remove water from the sludge until it becomes solid. To transform it into inert material, the digestion process is carried out, which generates biogas that is used as fuel in the wastewater treatment plant itself.” The improvements to be implemented are in line with the energy neutrality and environmental sustainability objectives established by European regulations. The councilor stated that the project “is aligned with Benidorm’s Strategic Innovation Plan, the Valencian Community’s Smart Specialisation Strategy, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

The project involves dosing iron nanoparticles to enhance sludge digestion, thereby increasing biogas production. Furthermore, to monitor this process, sensors will be installed along the sludge line to measure dewatering using computer vision. “With initiatives like this, we reaffirm our commitment to moving towards a more efficient, sustainable, and intelligent integrated water cycle management model.”

The proposed project also addresses the challenges outlined in the new European directive on urban wastewater treatment, specifically regarding energy neutrality for treatment plants, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, improved sludge management, and control of emerging contaminants. The implementation of the ‘Benidorm Bioboost’ will not only increase the production and quality of biogas, “but will also reduce energy consumption and improve the quality of the final discharge and compliance with regulations,” González de Zárate added.