Within the industry’s transition to a circular economy, sustainable wastewater treatment and recovery should be reached without excessive strain on limited energy supplies and by decreasing fossil energy consumption. The efficient supply of energy, the best possible integration of renewable energy sources, and the recovery of resources in a circular economy must go hand in hand. Experts from 14 countries analyzed the potential for solar heat and photons for wastewater treatment in industry and municipal wastewater treatment. This article highlights the most promising outcomes.

The SHC Programme finalized its work on Solar Energy in Industrial Water and Wastewater Management (SHC Task 62) at the end of 2022. To learn first-hand about the Task’s impact, we asked the Task Manager, Christoph Brunner of AEE, to share his thoughts on this 4-year project.