ANAERGY · Project

Modular Wastewater Treatment That Cuts Pollution 99% and Generates Biogas Energy

environmentPilotedTRL 7

Imagine a compact, Lego-like water cleaning system that food factories can plug together depending on how dirty their wastewater is. It combines three cleaning stages — one that digests pollutants without oxygen and produces biogas, one that uses oxygen, and one that zaps whatever is left with advanced chemistry. The result: up to 99% of pollutants removed and enough biogas to cover about 80% of the factory's energy bill. Two Spanish engineering SMEs with 12 years of working together built and tested it specifically for the messy, seasonal waste streams that food and drink producers deal with.

By the numbers

95-99%

pollutant elimination rate

16 m³/m³

biogas production per cubic meter of wastewater

~80%

energy needs covered by biogas

6.6

projected ROI over 4 years

Q1 Year 2

payback period

EUR 1,224,125

EU contribution

12 years

collaboration history between partners

The business problem

What needed solving

Many food and agricultural producers generate highly variable, seasonal wastewater that current treatment technologies handle poorly or at prohibitive cost. Rather than invest in expensive, oversized treatment plants, many companies simply pay fines for illegal discharge — polluting waterways while still losing money. The industry needs a flexible, cost-effective treatment system that adapts to changing wastewater loads and actually pays for itself.

The solution

What was built

A modular wastewater treatment system combining anaerobic digestion (with patented PUREMUST® technology), aerobic treatment, and advanced oxidation in a single scalable unit. Test bench results (Deliverable D.3.1) validated performance at 95-99% pollutant removal with 16 m³ biogas output per m³ wastewater.

Audience

Who needs this

Olive oil mills and wineries with seasonal wastewater spikesDairy and meat processors facing tightening discharge regulationsFruit and vegetable processing plants paying discharge finesBrewery and distillery operators seeking energy cost reductionIndustrial park operators managing mixed food-industry effluents

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Food & Beverage Processing

SME

Target: Olive oil mills, wineries, dairy processors, fruit juice producers

If you are a food processor dealing with seasonal wastewater surges and paying fines for discharge violations — this project developed ANAERGY, a modular treatment system that eliminates 95-99% of pollutants while generating biogas covering approximately 80% of your energy needs. The system's small footprint and flexibility mean it adapts to your production cycles without massive capital investment. Payback is projected by the first quarter of the second year of operation.

Brewery & Distillery

any

Target: Craft breweries, large-scale breweries, distilleries

If you are a brewery struggling with high-strength organic wastewater and rising discharge fees — ANAERGY integrates anaerobic digestion with its patented PUREMUST® technology to produce 16 m³ of biogas per m³ of wastewater treated. That biogas offsets roughly 80% of your energy costs. The modular design lets you scale treatment capacity to match seasonal production peaks without overbuilding.

Municipal & Industrial Water Utilities

mid-size

Target: Water treatment service providers, industrial park operators

If you are a water utility or industrial estate operator looking for compact treatment solutions for mixed industrial effluents — ANAERGY's three-stage system (anaerobic, aerobic, advanced oxidation) achieves 95-99% pollutant removal in a smaller footprint than conventional plants. The projected ROI of 6.6 over 4 years and elimination of discharge fees make it a strong business case for upgrading aging infrastructure.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this system cost and what is the return on investment?

The project reports a projected ROI of 6.6 over 4 years, with payback expected by the first quarter of the second year. The system eliminates wastewater discharge fees and reduces energy costs since biogas covers approximately 80% of energy needs. Exact unit pricing is not disclosed in the project data.

Can this scale to handle large industrial volumes?

ANAERGY is designed as a modular system — you add or remove treatment stages based on your wastewater volume and composition. The project produced test bench results (Deliverable D.3.1) validating performance. The modular approach means scaling up requires adding units rather than redesigning the entire plant.

What about patents and licensing — can I buy or license this technology?

The system includes patented PUREMUST® technology for the anaerobic digestion stage. The coordinator Ingeobras handles commercialization and installation, while partner Proycon manufactures the digesters. Licensing or purchase terms would need to be discussed directly with the coordinator.

Does this meet EU wastewater discharge regulations?

ANAERGY was specifically developed to help industries meet increasingly stringent EU wastewater regulations. With 95-99% pollutant elimination rates across three treatment stages, the system is designed to bring effluent quality well within regulatory limits. The advanced oxidation stage handles residual contaminants that basic treatment misses.

How long does installation take and how disruptive is it?

Based on available project data, the modular design and small size are highlighted as key advantages for reducing installation complexity. The coordinator Ingeobras manages assembly and installation. Specific installation timelines are not detailed in the project documentation.

Can it handle different types of wastewater from seasonal production?

This is one of ANAERGY's core selling points. The system was specifically designed for the heterogeneous and seasonal wastewater streams typical in agro-food production. Its modular architecture allows tailored configuration to match specific effluent characteristics and volume fluctuations throughout the year.

What kind of biogas output can I expect?

The project reports biogas production of 16 m³ per m³ of wastewater treated, which is sufficient to cover approximately 80% of a facility's energy needs. This directly offsets energy costs and contributes to renewable energy targets. Actual output will depend on wastewater composition and organic load.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a lean, execution-focused consortium of just 2 Spanish SMEs with a 12-year track record of working together — Ingeobras handling engineering, assembly, commercialization, and installation, while Proycon manufactures the digesters. The 100% industry composition with zero universities or research institutes signals this is a commercialization-stage project, not an academic exercise. Both partners are SMEs, which means faster decision-making but potentially limited capacity for large-scale rollout across multiple markets simultaneously. The single-country setup (Spain) may initially limit market reach, though the agro-food wastewater problem is universal across Southern Europe and beyond.

INGENIERIA DE OBRAS ZARAGOZA SLCoordinator · ES
PROYECTOS Y CONSTRUCCIONES PIRINEOparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Contact the coordinator Ingenieria de Obras Zaragoza SL (Ingeobras) through their website or via SciTransfer for a facilitated introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See INGENIERIA DE OBRAS ZARAGOZA SL profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore whether ANAERGY fits your wastewater treatment needs? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the development team and provide a detailed technology brief tailored to your specific application.

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