New wastewater treatment plant for Fredrikstad

An energy-positive treatment plant

Today’s wastewater discharge into the Oslofjord must be treated better to avoid damage to nature and ensure life in the fjord. The project aims to remove phosphorus and particles, as well as excess nitrogen from the wastewater. Too much nitrogen leads to algal blooms, resulting in murky bathing water and unfavorable living conditions for fish.

It has been a prerequisite that the project is sustainable in planning, construction, and operation. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are a focus, emphasizing smart and long-term decision-making. FARA will produce more energy than it consumes, thus becoming an energy-positive treatment plant. This will be achieved by using solar panels on the roof, heat recovery, and surplus production of biogas, which will be used as fuel for buses in Fredrikstad. The new facility will, overall, reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere after a few years of operation, and thus eventually be CO2-negative.

The FARA project first underwent a collaborative phase led by PPM Prosjekt together with AF Bygg Østfold, Cambi, Enwa, and ABB. Together, the team found good solutions, reduced risks and uncertainties, and costs.