Water Technology Company of the Year
Royal HaskoningDHV
What is it?
A Netherlands-based international engineering consultancy firm with a highly innovative water technology and software development arm.
What has it done?
In 2019 Royal HaskoningDHV took giant strides in the transition to the circular economy as it blazed the trail for resource recovery. It initiated the first large-scale production unit for its ground-breaking biopolymer product Kaumera Nereda Gum, while the firm scored impressive results with a new sludge digestion technology and its Aquasuite software.
What makes it special?
The Kaumera bio-based raw material extracted from Nereda sludge is a huge step forward towards creating the truly circular economy, offering a viable and versatile alternative to oil-based materials. Its ability to both absorb or repel water gives Kaumera Gum a variety of applications in the agriculture, building, textile and paper industries; with a second production unit planned to be online in spring 2020, Kaumera looks set for a lasting impact.
After dramatically shaking up the wastewater treatment space with the Nereda technology, RHDHV has set its sights on anaerobic sludge digestion with a clever new digester configuration.
The Ephyra system separates various stages of the digestion process, allowing shorter retention times and increasing biogas production by 75% at the Tollebeek WWTP, which is now energy self-sufficient.
Royal HaskoningDHV scored a major breakthrough for its Aquasuite AI software platform as a pilot at Singapore PUB’s Ulu Pandan Water Reclamation Plant saw increased effluent quality despite aeration flow being reduced by 15%, demonstrating machine learning’s key role in meeting increased demands on wastewater treatment.
Distinction
Suez Smart Environmental Solutions
What is it?
The smart services business of Suez, which is responsible for the Aquadvanced suite of digital monitoring and control solutions, the automated metering infrastructure solutions and the Smart Asset management solutions.
What has it done?
In 2019 Suez Smart Solutions was one of the most dynamic engines of growth for the overall Suez portfolio as it took its market-leading Aquadvanced suite of real-time software solutions to new territories. The firm continued to set the pace for the digital revolution by integrating the latest technologies and developing highly impactful external partnerships.
What makes it special?
In 2019 dozens of utilities across the globe enjoyed Suez’s Aquadvanced solutions including Singapore’s Public Utilities Board, and Melbourne Water, enabling major cities at the sharp end of today’s water challenges to effortlessly monitor their water and sewerage networks in real-time and cut energy costs by making best use of off-peak power rates. The service goes from strength to strength as Aquadvanced Plant is launched in 2020 after extensive full-scale piloting.
No company was more committed to water’s digital future in 2019, as Suez Smart Solutions struck canny partnerships to not only enhance its range of solutions, such as applying machine learning for pipe assessment with start-up Fracta, but also accelerate high-potential digital projects with other partners through its unrivalled Digital Hub collaborative platform.
Suez now operates more than 5 million smart water meters across the world through its hugely successful ON’connect platform, which leverages the Internet of Things to help cities and their inhabitants become much more sustainable in their water use.