ENEL Zero Liquid Discharge

What is it? Flue Gas Desulphurisation is the process which removes pollution from the smoke stacks of fossil fuel power plants. The process traps most of the the pollutants in a hazardous wastewater stream, which is often left to drain into the sea. Italy's largest power generator, ENEL, had five coal-fired power stations which discharged their FGD stream that way. Aquatech introduced a zero liquid discharge system including partial lime softening, evaporation and crystallisation, which eliminated all industrial wastewater from the sites.

Who is responsible? Aquatech International supplied the technology.

Why has it been shortlisted?

• The FGD process is notorious for doing little more than turning air pollution into water pollution. Aquatech has delivered an elegant environmental solution to the problem.

• The water and the sludge recovered from the system is reused within the plant, entirely eliminating one of the most challenging waste streams that exists in industry.

• The ENEL ZLD system is a world first, taking environmental sustainability in the power industry to new heights.