Hydroflux and AAT Biogas: Pioneering Anaerobic Digestion

Hydroflux is delighted to announce a strategic agreement with AAT GmbH, a renowned global provider of advanced anaerobic digestion technologies. This partnership marks a significant milestone in Hydroflux’s sustainable business objectives by leveraging and expanding its extensive experience in water and wastewater treatment to include AAT’s state-of-the-art co-digestion solutions throughout Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific region.

AAT Biogas has established itself as an industry leader by offering unparalleled expertise in the co-digestion of diverse organic substrates. Through its advanced mixing technology and engineering excellence, AAT Biogas develops projects that unlock the full potential of co-digestion whilst focusing on plant reliability and ease of maintenance.

After spending time at AAT’s Wolfurt offices in Austria, and visiting numerous installations around Europe, Manfred Beyrer, General Manager – Hydroflux Bioenergy division highlights some of the key reasons Hydroflux is excited about this partnership.

1.           Extensive Knowledge of Substrate Compatibility:

AAT Biogas possesses vast knowledge and experience in the co-digestion of over 150 different organic substrates. Their team of experts understands the intricate interactions between different feedstocks, ensuring that the combination of substrates is compatible and optimised for maximum biogas production. Whether it’s sewage sludge, food waste, industrial waste or agricultural residues, AAT Biogas can identify the substrate mixtures that enhance biogas yields and facilitate efficient waste degradation but also identify substrates that have the potential to create poor outcomes.

2.           Advanced Mixing Technology for Co-Digestion:

The success of co-digestion projects relies on efficient mixing to promote substrate homogeneity and facilitate the breakdown of various organic materials. AAT Biogas’s advanced mixing technology with large and slow rotating mixers ensures optimised mixing, reducing power demand and service requirements. The hydraulic digester with its special construction provides mixing by hydraulic gradient without moving parts. The company’s engineers carefully consider factors such as feedstock characteristics, tank geometry, and process requirements to design bespoke mixing systems tailored to the unique needs of each project. AAT Biogas plants achieve higher biogas yields, reduce power requirements, and extract more value from their diverse waste streams.

3.           Process Optimisation and Flexibility:

AAT Biogas’s co-digestion expertise extends beyond substrate compatibility and mixing technology. The company excels in process optimisation and flexibility, ensuring that co-digestion systems operate at peak efficiency. Through advanced monitoring and control systems, AAT Biogas plants allow local operators and remote experts to efficiently manage fluctuations in waste availability and take advantage of seasonal or intermittent organic resources, further enhancing the economic viability of their waste-to-energy projects.

4.           Reliability and Durability:

Reliability is crucial in waste-to-energy projects, where consistent performance and minimal downtime are essential. AAT Biogas strongly emphasises the reliability and durability of its mixing technology by only utilising high-quality materials and robust construction methods to ensure its systems can withstand the harsh conditions and corrosive environments typically encountered in biogas plants. Through extensive testing and backed by decades of operational know-how, AAT Biogas delivers mixing solutions that have proven longevity and can operate reliably over an extended period.

Klaus Moosbrugger, the Director of AAT put it into simple terms. “Imagine a plant where tons of waste (substrate) are delivered daily and can’t just be stopped. A breakdown requiring work such as repairing or replacing a mixer or moving part within a digester containing thousands of cubic meters of digestate can become a significant nightmare for an operator. Therefore, selecting the best available and most reliable technology is the key to a plant’s success and profitable operation.”

AAT Biogas’s expertise and a 30-year history in co-digestion set them apart as a trusted partner of choice for industrial and municipal waste-to-energy projects worldwide with decades of knowledge and experience in substrates, digester design, mixing and biogas technology. With AAT Biogas and Hydroflux as their trusted partners, municipalities and industries can confidently navigate the complexities of co-digestion and revolutionise their waste-to-energy initiatives for a greener and more sustainable future.

About Hydroflux

The Hydroflux Group aims to deliver the highest level of engineering and scientific know-how to the emerging issues of sustainability, climate adaptation and environmental protection with a specific focus on water and wastewater.

As part of its vision and mission, Hydroflux has always taken its climate responsibility seriously. In 2022, Hydroflux became Australia’s first water treatment and technology company to achieve Climate Active carbon neutral certification for its organisation and products. It knows that partnering with customers and clients is the most significant impact it can have in its journey.

The Group employs over 100 staff and operates throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, with office locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland, Suva and Portsmouth.