Veolia has been chosen by the University Area Joint Authority (UAJA) in State College, Pennsylvania, to implement a groundbreaking anaerobic digestion solution for biosolids and organic waste at its wastewater treatment facility. The biogas produced from this process will be upgraded to renewable natural gas and integrated into the energy grid.
This collaborative project aims to enhance the existing biosolids management at the treatment plant by incorporating advanced anaerobic digestion, thermal drying, and biogas upgrading technologies. Once fully operational, the facility will process sludge from neighboring wastewater plants and food waste collected locally, effectively diverting waste from landfills.
Designed to meet EPA 503 standards, the anaerobic digestion system is projected to generate 162 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) of raw biogas from a blended biosolids slurry and 264 SCFM from food waste slurry. This output is expected to produce around 150,000 GJ of renewable natural gas each year, contributing to decarbonized energy production in the State College area.
As part of its GreenUp strategic initiative, Veolia is committed to investing significantly in local decarbonization through bioenergy and water management technologies.
To execute this impactful project, Veolia has partnered with Rettew Associates, Inc. for project design and Quandel as the construction contractor. The biological hydrolysis pretreatment system is scheduled to be operational by the summer of 2025.
Veolia's extensive expertise in water management has been applied to the anaerobic digestion processes, which include enhanced biological hydrolysis, sequential gas mixing, heat exchangers, gas holders, and other essential equipment. Key components of Veolia’s scope include the Ecrusor™ for food waste pre-processing and the BioCo™ for reducing the volume of digested sludge.
“This project delivers a unique example of ecological transformation — literally converting waste into local energy and revenue,” said Richard Gray, Senior Vice President, Engineered Solutions Projects, Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions. “Once complete, this project will serve as a blueprint for nearly any region that allows a municipality to produce energy from its waste, which goes beyond a sustainability initiative and creates savings for constituents.”
“This project is the culmination of many years of planning and efforts by the Authority to ensure that we are employing the most cost-effective technology and harnessing the value of our community’s wastewater,“ said Cory Miller, Executive Director of the University Area Joint Authority. “At the helm of the Authority for 27 years, I have seen tremendous changes. Our existing biosolids process, composting, started in 1994 and was among the few operational facilities of its kind in the nation. Having reached its retirement, the Authority is excited to replace these facilities with Veolia’s innovative biosolids digestion and drying that will position the Authority for the next 30 years.”
