Worcester, Southern Africa Build, Own, Operate (BOO)
SITE OVERVIEW
Turning wastewater into energy and operational savings
Built in partnership with Rainbow Chickens, the Worcester plant treats more than 3,000m³ of high fats, oils and grease containing wastewater daily generated from processing over 250,000 birds per day. The facility also generates renewable energy in the form of electricity and thermal energy, while reducing environmental impact and supporting more sustainable operations.
THE CHALLENGE
The operation faced rising wastewater treatment costs, increasing disposal risk and expense, and the prospect of significant capital investment to maintain compliance. Wastewater management had become a growing operational and financial burden, with limited opportunity to extract any commercial value from the process.
THE SOLUTION
We implemented a fully managed waste-to-energy solution, processing all waste streams onsite. The project provided a sustainable alternative to conventional treatment while creating a pathway to generate energy, reduce operating costs and generate long-term value for our client.
Technology & Process
Wastewater is treated through anaerobic digestion, where organic material is converted into biogas. The biogas is cleaned and utilised in combined heat and power units to generate electricity and thermal energy. Advanced solids recovery and polishing processes ensure compliant discharge and reliable plant performance.
THE OUTCOME
The facility has significantly reduced the costs of onsite chemical treatment, waste removal and municipal discharge. At the same time, it generates renewable electricity and heat for use in the adjacent operation. The project transformed wastewater from a cost centre into a value-generating resource, delivering operational savings, compliance assurance and measurable sustainability benefits.
KEY SITE FEATURES
Wastewater isn’t the end of a process. It’s the start of another one.