Region of opportunity 3

Location:
Lower Saxony, Germany

Focus of circular economy:

Nutrient and energy recovery

Background:

• Lower Saxony has a regional imbalance in agricultural nutrient budgets, with significant inputs of organic fertilizers like manure and sewage sludge, but also local nutrient deficits.
• German law requires phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge by 2029. There is also a local need for sustainable nitrogen management, as the region has a nitrogen surplus in agriculture.
• With escalating energy and fertilizer costs, there is growing interest in circular solutions for energy and nutrient management.
• The region benefits from an established network of local stakeholders on this topic, including utilities, fertilizer distributors, farmers, water and agricultural authorities, and research.

Expected benefits:

• Identify innovative Water Circular Economy Solutions for the region for nutrients and energy recovery from municipal wastewater.
• Increase adoption of circular solutions through knowledge transfer from local, national and international R&D initiatives.
• Ease legal barriers for End-of-Waste criteria to streamline implementation and regulatory compliance.