Purification 4.0 – between artificial intelligence and predictive technologies
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The intelligent wastewater treatment plant in Modena and COSTANCE, the prototype facility in Granarolo dell’Emilia. Two best-in-class examples of sustainable water management
Innovation is the key word. To protect the environment and those who live in it, and to ensure quality services. This has always been our approach. But that's not enough. We need to add another crucial word: resilience — the ability to respond to change. And when it comes to climate change, we have learned that innovation and resilience go hand in hand. The most advanced technologies allow us to respond to sudden change through prevention, i.e. the ability to anticipate causes and consequences, and to act in advance.
On this basis, and as the second-largest operator in Italy by volume of water sold, we have allocated significant investments in our Business Plan to 2028 to strengthen the resilience of our infrastructure and develop initiatives that support the ecological transition.
Water networks and plants are under increasing pressure due to
climate change, and it is precisely our capacity for adaptation and innovation that has made us a benchmark in the sector in Italy.
Our investments clearly reflect our commitment to a circular and regenerative economy, starting with water as a resource.
In particular, by responding to the UN Global Compact’s call for sustainable water management, we reaffirm our commitment to continuous innovation in this service, with a strong focus on progressive decarbonisation. This is not only achieved through the exclusive use of renewable energy, but also through energy-efficiency projects and the optimisation of the processes involved in purification.
Two examples we are particularly proud of are the wastewater treatment plants in Modena and in Granarolo dell’Emilia (Bologna).
THE SMART WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN MODENA
“Acqua azzurra, acqua chiara” [clear, blue water]. Visitors at the Modena smart wastewater treatment plant are welcomed by this refrain from a popular song. This unique predictive system, the only one of its kind in Italy, enables us to improve the quality of the water we return to the environment and further reduce the energy consumption of our wastewater treatment plant.
Here, technological innovation, integrated systems and efficient use of resources are the core of the system. The project, developed with Energy Way (a company specialising in mathematical models for efficient and sustainable business development) led to the creation of a system capable of controlling the oxidation process, a crucial stage in the wastewater purification cycle, by anticipating the plant’s operational needs. These vary depending on the flow rate and concentration of organic pollutants in the water.
The smart controller forecasts plant conditions 30 minutes in advance and acts proactively to prevent pollutant concentration or energy consumption peaks.
The pilot phase has delivered positive results we are proud of. The Modena wastewater treatment plant, which serves up to 500,000 residents, recorded a 16% reduction in energy used for the oxidation process compared to a traditional control system, and a further 8.1% drop in nitrogen levels in the treated water (already below legal thresholds).
WELCOME, CONSTANCE – THE PROTOTYPE OF THE GRANAROLO DELL’EMILIA TREATMENT PLANT
It has just been launched, but it is already showing great potential. We are talking about CONSTANCE (COntrollo iNtelligente e geSTione Automatizzata per il trattameNto di aCque rEflue – Intelligent Control and Automated Management for Wastewater Treatment).
The system, developed through a partnership between the Hera Group and ENEA (the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), is based on machine learning technologies and can reduce the energy and operating costs of wastewater treatment plants by over 30%. The prototype has reached technology readiness level 7 and is ready for industrial deployment. Initial tests have been successfully carried out at our treatment plant in Granarolo dell’Emilia (Bologna).
The main innovation of CONSTANCE enables the remote management of multiple purification plants and real-time estimation of incoming pollutants, such as nitrogen, allowing them to be reduced and thus returning cleaner water to the environment.
WE MONITOR OUR TREATMENT PLANTS FOR SIGNS OF “FEVER”
No, a thermometer like the one we use to check our body temperature isn’t enough. However, monitoring the health of wastewater treatment plants is now just as straightforward thanks to simplified dashboards that
summarise key biological, hydraulic and energy-related indicators.
This allows us to easily monitor the performance of the Group’s fifteen main wastewater treatment plants and to offer citizens high-quality, uninterrupted services.
The data is also accessible via a management dashboard, enabling us to improve the efficiency and performance of our plants.
THE RECOVERY OF PURIFIED WASTEWATER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LOCAL AREA
Since 2018, agreements have been signed with the relevant authorities to recover treated wastewater from treatment plants. In 2024, 11.9% of treated wastewater was reused or reusable; the target is to reach 14.4% by 2028 and 18% by 2030.
These achievements are made possible by major investments in innovation.
At Hera Group, we are committed to being ever more closely connected to the local area we serve, while fully respecting the environment and its most precious resources.
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