Marubeni Corporation has agreed to acquire shares through a third-party allotment in AquaGreen, a Danish company with technology that can dry and pyrolyze wet biomass, such as sewage sludge generated during wastewater treatment, to produce biochar.
Sewage sludge, an organic waste generated during sewage treatment, has traditionally been disposed of by composting or by landfilling, either directly or following incineration (hereinafter, “conventional sewage sludge disposal”). In recent years, however, treatment methods have been subject to review in various countries against the backdrop of increasing costs of sludge disposal, concerns about detrimental health impacts caused by PFAS contained in sewage sludge, and the issue of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions In Japan, the Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures announced by the Ministry of the Environment sets the goal of reducing GHG emissions in the sewerage sector by 2.08 million tons by FY2030 (compared to FY2013 levels) through the treatment of sewage sludge and the promotion of energy conservation and energy creation measures.
AquaGreen is the first company in the world to successfully develop and commercialize technology that enables drying and pyrolysis using only the calories of sewage sludge
Among sewage sludge treatment technologies, drying and pyrolysis is a promising technique that can facilitate the removal of harmful substances such as PFAS, microplastics, and heavy metals contained in sewage sludge while reducing GHG emissions by fixing carbon in the biochar produced in the drying and pyrolysis process. However, this technique has not been widely used due to the high moisture content and low calorific value of sewage sludge and the requirement for auxiliary fuel, leading to low cost efficiency. AquaGreen is the first company in the world to successfully develop and commercialize technology that enables drying and pyrolysis using only the calories of sewage sludge without the need for auxiliary fuel, thereby achieving a reduction in GHG emissions of approximately 80% as well as significant reductions in operating costs when compared to conventional sewage sludge disposal. AquaGreen has already begun sales in Europe, including Northern Europe, where it has a track record of delivering its technologies. Now, Marubeni will support sales promotion for AquaGreen technologies mainly in Japan, Asia, and Oceania, aiming for their widespread dissemination as an alternative to conventional sewage sludge disposal.
Marubeni has many years of experience in water supply and wastewater management projects in Portugal, Philippines, and Chile; seawater desalination projects in Saudi Arabia and Chile; and water recycling projects in South Africa, providing water services to a total of approximately 16.6 million people around the world. To complement its knowhow cultivated in the water business, Marubeni will now also participate in the sewage sludge treatment field through its involvement with AquaGreen, with the aim of providing an even greater range of water services while contributing to the resolution of societal challenges such as environmental issues and decarbonization.