2010 - 2012

www.life-greenlysis.eu Layman’s Report

Hydrogen and Oxygen production via electrolysis

powered by renewable energies to reduce
environmental footprint of a WWTP

With the contribution of the

Life financial instrument of
the European Commission
 Hydrogen and
oxygen production
via electrolysis powered
by renewable energies to
reduce the environmental
footprint of a WWTP

The Life+ GREENLYISIS project (2010 - 2012) has developed the

production of hydrogen by using the effluent of a wastewater
treatment plant (WWTP). During the three years of duration of the project, a
pilot plant was designed, implemented and operated in order to study its
working conditions and applicability. Its implementation was set in the WWTP of
Montornès del Vallès (Barcelona, SPAIN).

The project scheme comprises a water treatment step of the WWTP effluent to be conditioned
before entering the electrolyser and the electrolysis of this pre-treated wastewater.
Through this process H2 with a purity higher than 99% is obtained and therefore it can be
used in a vehicle powered with a combustion engine. In addition, in order to minimize the
greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, all this system is powered by renewable energies.
 
The support provided by the WWTP of Montornès del Vallès and El Consorci per
la Defensa de la Conca del riu Besòs, as well as and the collaboration between
the project partners (Cetaqua, SAFT Baterías and CIRSEE) has allowed
the execution of this innovative and successful process. The results of
Life+ GREENLYSIS project will contribute to transform WWTP
into greener installations as well as broaden the usage of
renewable energy sources.

STAKEHOLDERS COLLABORATORS
Contents
www.life-greenlysis.eu

1. Context and Background ..................................................................................04

2. The idea: Electrolysis for H2 production ..........................................................05
3. The GREENLYSIS project
3.1 The objectives...........................................................................................06
3.2 The process scheme ................................................................................07
4. The process outcomes
4.1 Water treatment .......................................................................................08
4.2 Energy supply .......................................................................................... 09
4.3 Electrolyser ..............................................................................................10
4.4 Hydrogen ..................................................................................................11
4.5 Oxygen......................................................................................................11
5. Communication activities
5.1 Workshop and visits .................................................................................12
5.2 Publications ..............................................................................................12
5.3 Events .......................................................................................................13
5.4 Digital dissemination ................................................................................13
6. Environmental assessment ..............................................................................14
7. Conclusions: future challenges ........................................................................15

3
 1 Context and background
The GREENLYSIS project was conceived in the context of the EU policy which stated the need of
dealing with the global warming and energy market. Its aim is to transform Europe into a high
energy-efficient and low greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting economy.
In this way several laws and roadmaps have been published in the last few years, the most
remarkable ones are:

Communication on
alternative fuels
(hydrogen: 5% of European Strategic
Action plan on road transport fuel Energy Technology
energy efficiency. by 2020). Plan.
APR. 2000 NOV. 2001 JUN. 2008

NOV. 1997 OCT. 2001 SEPT. 2003

White paper on White paper on EU Communication
renewable energies transport policy on an European
(6% → 12% of renewable (20% substitution of partnership for
energies by 2010). diesel and gasoline the sustainable
for alternative fuels hydrogen
by 2020). economy.

The European Roadmap “Action plan on energy efficiency” published in 2000 was established for the
evolution of our fuel-based economy into a hydrogen-oriented economy by 2050, which would
lead to a reduction of the GHG emissions by 60-80%.

Currently, the majority of hydrogen (~95%) is produced from fossil fuels by steam reforming or partial
oxidation of methane and coal gasification. However, several processes or routes can be found to
produce hydrogen from water.

• Electrolysis
• Thermolysis
• Photobiological water splitting
HYDROGEN
PRODUCTION • Photocatalytic water splitting
FROM WATER • Sulfur-iodine cycle
• Biohydrogen routes
• Fermentative hydrogen production

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2 The idea: Electrolysis for H2 production

The Life+ GREENLYISIS project has main its basis on the production of hydrogen by
electrolyzing water. The electrolysis of water is the decomposition of water (H2O) into
oxygen (O2) and hydrogen gas (H2) due to an electric current passing through the water
(see Figure 1).

WATER ENERGY

Figure 1: Water electrolysis

This procedure needs two important elements: water and energy. Water can be found in huge
quantities in WWTPs. Regarding the energy needs, they have been covered by renewable energies.

In addition, WWTPs are perfect emplacements for the GREENLYSIS pilot plant implementation due to the
following reasons:
• Availability of space to install an aerogenerator, and several photovoltaic and thermal panels.
• Plenty of water to produce hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis.
• Strategic geographical distribution to become hydrogen suppliers.
• Possibility to reuse the oxygen generated.

The GREENLYSIS pilot plant was finally set in

the WWTP of Montornès del Vallès (Barcelona,
SPAIN), which has a treatment capacity of
40.000 m3 (see Figure 2).
Montornès del
Vallès (Barcelona)

Figure 2: WWTP located in Montornès del Vallès

5
 3 The GREENLYSIS project
Project: GREENLYSIS: Hydrogen and oxygen production via electrolysis powered by renewable
energies to reduce the environmental footprint of a WWTP
Budget: 1,3 M€
Duration: 01/01/2010 – 31/12/2012
Partners: Cetaqua (Coordinator), SAFT, CIRSEE

SAFT is
a worldwide leader
designer and manufacturer of
high technology industrial batteries;
already established in 19 countries
and with 16 production centres
Cetaqua is
CIRSEE (Centre
an organisation part of
International de Recherche
AGBAR, devoted to research
Sur l’Eau et l’Environnement)
and development in technologies
is SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT’s
linked to the integral water cycle,
international centre for
promoting synergies between
research on water and the
business, research
environment
and education

3.1 The objectives

• To produce hydrogen via electrolysis from the effluent of a WWTP.

• To use the hydrogen obtained as a fuel to power a vehicle. Therefore, the use of other
carbon fuels can be reduced, as well as GHG emissions.

• To avoid GHG emissions, renewable energy sources were used (thermal and photovoltaic
solar power and wind power).

• To obtain deionized water, required for the electrolysis. This pure water was obtained by
a pre-treatment (UF and UV) and a purification system (membrane distillation powered
by thermal solar energy) of the wastewater effluent.

• To use the oxygen obtained by water electrolysis to replace or enhance the current
aeration system of the WWTP.

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3.2 The process scheme

The GREENLYSIS pilot plant takes profit of the effluent from a WWTP. However, this water must be conditioned
first in order to be introduced into the electrolyser. The conditioning process consists of three water treatment
steps (see Figure 3): an ultrafiltration (UF) process, an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and a membrane distillation
(MD) process. Afterwards, water is introduced into the electrolyser. Hydrogen produced is stored to be
used afterwards to power a combustion engine and oxygen can be used in the biological process of
the WWTP.

The pilot plant electricity supply is covered by renewable sources: solar and wind energy. In order to
optimize the utilization of both renewable sources, several batteries and an energy manager have also
been included in the system.

WATER TREATMENT ELECTROLYSER

(Suits water conditions (Splits water into
for the electrolyser) H2 and O2 )

ENERGY SUPPLY
(Provides the process with
power supply)

Figure 3: Diagram of the Greenlysis pilot plant

7
 4 The process outcomes
4.1 Water treatment
The water treatment step was designed to adapt the WWTP effluent conditions in order to make them
suitable for the subsequent electrolysis process.

ULTRAFILTRATION (UF)
It improves water quality by decreasing the
turbidity and the amount of suspended matter
contained in the WWTP effluent.

UF parameters Feed Water Permeate Reduction [%]

Suspended matter [mg/L] 8,4 1,3 84,8

Turbidity [NTU] 3,7 0,5 87,0

Ultrafiltration (UF)
Table 1: Operational results obtained with the UF

ULTRAVIOLET LAMP (UV)

This device is installed after
the UF step and it is essential
in order to limit distillation
membrane biofouling. 
Ultraviolet lamp (UV)

MEMBRANE DISTILLATION (MD)

MD removes dissolved ionic species from water,
in this way, a conductivity under 1 µS/cm in order
to feed the electrolysis is obtained. The optimal
working temperature for this MD process has
been proved to be 70 ºC (heated only with solar
Membrane distillation (MD)
collectors).

To the Electrolyser

8

4.2 Energy supply
The GREENLYSIS energy grid is entirely based on renewable sources. In particular, it is an off-grid system
and can be divided into different blocks.
Generation
Energy Manager
ENERGY MANAGER (EM)
It controls the energy grid and decides
either the direct use of the electricity
generated to power the pilot plant’s
loads at the same time it is being
produced, or its storage in batteries
for future needs.
www.life-greenlysis.eu
GENERATION
Composed by an aerogenerator and several photovoltaic
solar panels, which can produce electricity using wind
energy and solar irradiation, respectively.
126 photovoltaic panels 1 aerogenerator
Power: 28,35 kW Power: 3,5 kW
Storage
STORAGE
Composed by several batteries which
can store the electricity generated
and guarantee an autonomy of 1 day
of operation whenever the electricity
generated is not enough to power the
system.
Batteries capacity: 56 kWh
To loads
(UF + UV + MD + Electrolyser
+ Pilot biological reactor)
Estimated consumption: 56 kWh/day
9
 4.3 Electrolyser

The electrolyser is the module in charge of generating hydrogen and oxygen from water. In the
GREENLYSIS pilot plant this function was covered by a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser
(see Figure 4), where electrolysis is based on the use of a solid conducting polymer that conduces
protons from anode to cathode.

DC This type of electrolyser was chosen for the

e-
e-
following advantages:
H2O H2

+
H , H2O High purity of the generated gases
( > 99 % for hydrogen).
Polymer
Electrolyte Production of pressurised gases (15 bar)
Membrane
(PEM) for its direct storage.
O2 , H2O

Anode
+
Cathode
+
H2O → 2 H + 0,5 O2 + 2 e- 2 H + 2 e- → H2

Figure 4: Electrolyser diagram

The following table specifies the real working conditions of the electrolyser. During its operation in the
project, an energy efficiency of 62% and a production of 0,7 Nm3/h have been demonstrated.

Electrolyser working conditions

Production 0,7 Nm3/h

H2
Quality > 99 %

Production 0,35 Nm3/h

O2
Quality > 95 %

H2O Consumption 0,6 - 1 L/h

Energy efficiency 62 %

Table 2: Working conditions of the electrolyser

Figure 5: Electrolyser

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 www.life-greenlysis.eu

4.4 Hydrogen

The hydrogen generated at the GREENLYSIS pilot

plant was tested for its usage as fuel in a vehicle.
In the project, a bicycle that was equipped with a
combustion engine (see Figure 6) was used for this
purpose.

Assuming an operation of 6 hours per working day,

the GREENLYSIS pilot plant has lead to an annual
production of hydrogen that corresponds to:

Figure 6: Combustion vehicle

8.767 km travelled in a fuel-cell production hydrogen car

1.841 kg CO2/year of avoided emissions*
*(compared with the emissions generated when travelling in a gasoline-powered car)

4.5 Oxygen
The O2 generated in the process has been tested in a biological pilot reactor to compare its treatment
performance versus air (see Figure 7). It has been demonstrated that similar removal efficiencies
can be obtained, and therefore the use of pure oxygen could potentially reduce the energy
consumption associated to air compression.

Effluent characteristics [mg/L]

FEEDING
+
DQO DBO5 SS N-NH4 NTK

Air 83 <5 37 < 0,5 5,5

Oxygen 74 6 36 < 0,5 5

Removal efficiencies [%]

FEEDING
+
DQO DBO5 SS N-NH4 NTK

Air 62 87 60 98 88

Oxygen 74 82 64 99 91

Tables 3, 4: Comparison of the reactor’s performance

varying the nature of feeding (one day operation)

Figure 7: Biological pilot reactor

11
 5 Communication activities
5.1 Workshop and visits
On November 29th of 2012, the GREENLYSIS final
workshop was held in Cornellà de Llobregat. The
event started with a set of talks and presentations
by Cetaqua, was followed by a roundtable with the
project partners and stakeholders, and ended with
a visit to the pilot plant in Montornès del Vallès. The
40 water and energy professionals who attended the
workshop were very satisfied with the content of the
presentations and the quality of the debate. The visit
to the WWTP in Montornès del Vallès had already
been done several times throughout the project, with
students, professionals and other people interested in
the project.

5.2 Publications
Different news on the final workshop have been
ir

disseminated. In addition, a press release was sent and

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07/01 /2013
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published by local and regional media of Vallès Oriental, LIFE+ GRE

News fro
m our memb
The Gree
ENLYSIS ers: CETA
QUA

who were interested in the project development and

nlysis proj
reducing ect was
both the laun
footprin energy cons ched in 2010
t of with the
of the prod a Wastewater Treaumption and the aim
uction of tment Plan environm of
achieve ental
an optimumhydrogen and oxyg t (WWTP) by
enhance perform en via elec means
d pre-trea ance of trolysis.
required tment the elec To
of the

its impact in the area.The magazine InfoAGBAR also

to reac wastewater trolysis, an
electroly h the
ser (con stringent
scheme ductivity requirem effluent is
comprise <1 ents of
particula s an ultra ʅS/cm). This the
te filtration pre-trea
step mem matter, an UV-l treatme tment
brane disti ight nt
The Gree llation to step for disinfect to reduce
nlysis proj remove ion and
(coordin ect cons dissolved a 2-
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Recherch g beneficiary) ortium is form ionic species.

published an interview to Lorenzo Cañas, Cetaqua’s

e , ed by Ceta
Batteries. Centre Sur l’Eau Suez-Cirs qua
www.life- et l’Env ee (Internat
ional
ironnem
greenlys ent) and
is.eu Saft
LIFE+ AWA
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The AWA

researcher specialized on water and energy, who

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articles were published in different technical media, for

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de la plant a, como comb separar EMH New
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12
 www.life-greenlysis.eu

5.3 Events
The GREENLYSIS project has been presented in many
different occasions, in internal and external events. The most
important presentations are the ones made for ACA (Water
Catalan Agency), for the Team Energy of Suez Environnement,
and the one given in the LIFE+ 20th Anniversary event, which
took place in Cetaqua headquarters in May 2012. In parallel,
project’s materials (brochures and posters, for example) have
been distributed in Euromembranes congress (London, UK),
Smart Cities congress (Barcelona, Spain) and IWA World
Congress (Busan, Korea).

5.4 Digital dissemination

The dissemination of the project by means of digital communication has been very important. A website was
created and updated with events, photos and news. It received more than 1.000 visits per month. In addition,
Cetaqua’s corporate dissemination channels were used; the project’s latest news were published on Cetaqua’s
Twitter (@Cetaqua), which has more than 460 followers, as well as the GREENLYSIS video, which is a good visual
summary of the methodology used and the results achieved.

13
 6 Environmental assessment
The evaluation of the environmental benefits of the GREENLYSIS project is based on its carbon footprint
(CF). The CF of a certain process or technology is defined as the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG),
expressed in CO2 equivalent units, emitted to the atmosphere as a consequence of its construction,
operation and dismantling processes.

(renewable)
Energy H2 Used to power
a vehicle
WATER TREATMENT
WWTP effluent
(UF + UV + MD)
+ O2
ELECTROLYSER
ts
ls
ica

or
at

sp

• Data used: annual consumptions of the pilot plant

em

He

n
Tra
Ch

• GHGs included: CO2, CH4, N20

Figure 8: Reduced emissions contribution

Reduced emissions = 1.862 kg CO2 / year (due to the auto-consumption of renewable energies)*
Avoided emissions = 1.841 kg CO2 / year (related to the hydrogen utilisation)
GREENLYSIS CF = 22 kg CO2 / year**

*(CF calculated according to the Spanish electricity mix)

** (Considering only the operation phase)

Overall, results show the benefits of hydrogen production in terms of a carbon footprint reduction due
to the important amount of avoided emissions when using hydrogen to substitute fossil fuel in vehicles.
In addition, thanks to the use of renewable energies to power the GREENLYSIS pilot plant, its CF is
very low (almost negligible).

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 www.life-greenlysis.eu

7 Conclusions: future challenges

For some years now, several European communications on energy issues have been developed; a
remarkable example is the Energy Roadmap 2050, which stated several strategies in order to reduce
GHG emissions while ensuring energy supply and competitiveness. In the Communication “Energy
2020”, several guidelines were given aiming to develop a strategy for achieving a more competitive,
sustainable and secure energy policy.

In this context, the GREENLYSIS project was started aiming to produce hydrogen from an effluent of a
WWTP powered entirely by renewable energy sources. The research developed during three years has
led to the following conclusions:
Hydrogen production has been successfully achieved
by only using renewable energy sources (solar and wind
energy): A generation and a storage units have been working
together with the supervision of an energy manager providing
all the process loads with power supply regardless of weather
The H2 produced can be deployed conditions.
in the powering of a combustion
engine: The Hydrogen generated in WWTP effluents are perfectly suitable for
the GREENLYSIS process has been H2 production: It has been demonstrated
used as fuel in the combustion engine that hydrogen can be produced from
of a vehicle. wastewater electrolysis. Nevertheless, an
appropriate water treatment of the effluent
must be performed in order to make water
The O2 produced reduces the WWTP’s energy costs
suitable for the process.
as it can be used in its biological treatment: The
oxygen obtained from the electrolysis was used in a
biological pilot reactor to treat wastewater. It has been
demonstrated that O2 can be used to partially substitute
the air used in the WWTP biological treatment, therefore
reducing the amount of electricity needed for aeration.

Overall, the reproduction of the GREENLYSIS process in other WWTPs does not only promote the
partial reutilisation of the plants’ effluents, but it also pursuits the substitution of carbon-based fuels by
a cleaner source (hydrogen), and consequently, GHG emissions can be substantially reduced.

15
 www.life-greenlysis.eu

www.life-greenlysis.eu

CETaqua, Centro Tecnológico del Agua

Carretera d’Esplugues, 75
08940 Cornellà de Llobregat (Barcelona)

www.cetaqua.com

GREENLYSIS LIFE08ENV/E/000118