Marubeni Corp. is preparing to launch a new business venture aimed at reducing emissions in sewage treatment. Currently, the majority of sewage sludge is incinerated, which leads to the production of carbon dioxide. Marubeni plans to utilize technology from a Danish startup in order to minimize CO2 emissions and hopes to have a treatment facility operational in Japan within the next two or three years.
Sewage sludge can be disposed of through incineration, landfilling, or composting. However, land must be acquired for landfills and composted sewage may contain harmful substances that can contaminate soil.
AquaGreen Holding ApS, a Danish company, possesses technology that involves drying sewage sludge at high temperatures and thermally decomposing it by burning gases like methane and hydrogen that are generated during the treatment process. By using fossil fuels solely for igniting these gases, AquaGreen’s method significantly reduces CO2 emissions.
Marubeni intends to invest in AquaGreen and make it an equity-method affiliate. The company is also exploring opportunities to expand its use of this technology throughout Asia and Australia.
Japan’s sewage sector currently emits approximately 6 million tons of CO2 each year from sludge disposal activities and related processes. In an effort to combat climate change, the government aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 2 million tons from 2013 levels by fiscal year 2030 while simultaneously improving the efficiency of sewage treatment operations.
Several major trading companies are already involved in the sewage business sector. Mitsui & Co., for example, operates a sewage treatment business in Mexico while Sumitomo Corp. has one in Brazil. Additionally, some developing countries lack well-established sewer systems and are urgently seeking infrastructure solutions for their wastewater management needs. Mitsubishi Corp., recognizing this demand, has invested in a company specializing in water and sewage facilities management as well as wastewater treatment within Japan.