GWE rebrands in line with new landmarks in clean energy generation and profitability
A world leader in wastewater and green energy technologies that radically improve companies’ environmental sustainability while enhancing their profitability is rebranding its international activities under the banner Global Water & Energy.
The Global Water Engineering organization – headed by Chairman and CEO Jean-Pierre Ombregt – is celebrating the successful completion of more than 400 anaerobic digestion plants around the world. For over 27 years GWE has transformed organic industrial wastewater and waste into biogas to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The new GWE (new logo heading this article) is changing its name from 2018-19 to better reflect its growing emphasis on not only attaining wastewater quality improvements down to strictest standards by means of anaerobic digestion, followed by aerobic polishing and other technologies, but also on the significant increase of the biomass waste-to-energy valorisation plants that bring profit to GWE’s clients around the world.
One of our big claims to success is that not only we clean up the environment, but also, we turn what was previously a costly waste disposal problem into an ongoing bottom-line profit for companies adopting it,” said Mr. Ombregt.
“Once the wastewater-green energy plant is paid for – often in 2-5 years – it can go on producing reliable baseload power for much longer period, providing a remarkable ROI and improvement in bottom-line profitability,” said Mr. Ombregt, whose RAPTOR® technology has been recognized with a green energy award by well-known International Chemical Engineering Association, IChemE, representing more than 40,000 chemical engineers worldwide.
The RAPTOR® process is a total solution that allows conversion of almost any organic residue (waste) or energy crop into biogas.
It can be used in any food, beverage, agribusiness, manufacturing or processing plant with a biological waste stream. Industries benefitting range from agribusiness and crop processing plants, through to meat, fish, dairy and industrial food and beverage processing facilities, including dozens of breweries and scores of factories focussed on pineapple, cassava, snack foods and a whole spectrum of top 20 food products globally.
Organic waste streams are digested by anaerobic bacteria under ideal controlled conditions in reactor tanks and turned into methane to be used as fuel for electric power generators or to replace fossil fuels in steam boilers and heaters on the production site.
Companies in Asia, Africa, America, Australasia and Europe already benefit from the biogas released to replace fossil fuels used in their steam boiler processes, thus curtailing the use of bunker oil fossil fuel at prices currently (June 2018) exceeding $450 a ton.
Some companies use the biogas produced to power generators to produce electricity for decentralized power plants benefitting both the company involved and local communities. Such decentralized power production helps fulfill a United Nations goal to end energy poverty by 2030 by accelerating investment in decentralized renewable energy that does not have the environmental impact of fossil fuel plants and which also does not suffer the losses of transporting electricity over distances.
Besides the inherent environmental benefits, organic waste-to-energy plants are an excellent option for the companies to simultaneously deal with waste more sustainably and increase their profitability.
GWE’s advanced anaerobic processes – which are a 21st century distant relative of the way dinosaurs converted food in their gut into energy results in water quality improvements of up to 99 percent removal of COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) in some cases, and more than 95 percent in many others. The same high-efficiency process works with wastewater, as well as solid wastes. The high water quality figure means that the effluent water coming out of the factory or processing plant is often not only much cleaner than when it went in, but better than the water streams into which it is released, so there is a significant gain for the environment, says Mr. Ombregt.
“While green energy alternatives such as wind power and solar power get most of the headlines for their achievements, the GWE anaerobic digestion processes are even more suited to the industry in many instances, given that it provides reliable baseload fuel and power, and simultaneously treats wastewater to high discharge standards. This is one of the reasons we are rebranding our proven successful technologies as GLOBAL WATER & ENERGY (GWE), reflecting our expanding global role in industrial wastewater treatment, water reuse, solid waste treatment, and green energy solutions provider to the global marketplace. To that end, GWE offers state-of-the-art technologies to assist industries and private owners in their efforts to grow while reducing the costs of doing business.
GWE capabilities
From some of the world’s leading anaerobic wastewater treatment and organic waste-to-energy processes to a variety of top-of-the-line aerobic technologies, GWE has one of the world’s most extensive portfolios of technology for industrial wastewater management, water reuse, and renewable energy generation/utilization.
With hundreds of worldwide installations and over 27 years of application experience, we can tackle the toughest wastewater and organic waste-to-energy problems. We can provide design, technology, and services packages for any of our proprietary technologies, or if desired, complete turnkey services including complete design, construction, and installation of the entire system (in conjunction with engineering and construction partners). In either case, we offer performance guarantees and aftercare support to ensure peace of mind for our clients.
Our experienced team and optimized project execution procedures allow us successfully to finish every project in a timely fashion. All projects are executed in accordance with GWE’s Quality Assurance System, based on ISO 9001-2014 standards. Our uncompromising dedication to our customers makes GWE your reliable partner, whether you are a small local firm, a multinational corporation, or global Fortune 500 company.
Mission Statement
GWE aims to be a reliable supplier of water and wastewater treatment technologies of the highest standards, adapted to each specific situation, and at affordable prices. GWE supplies practical and modern technologies and 'best buy' solutions that provide consistent performance, meet all guarantees, and fully satisfy our clients and business partners.
“The strengths of GWE environmental technologies are solving one of the biggest challenges of the modern industry, which is waste generation and reduction of the fossil fuel dependency.” - Jean-Pierre Ombregt, GWE Chairman and CEO.
Timeline: Anaerobic wastewater treatment and GWE
GWE Founder and Chairman/CEO, Jean-Pierre Ombregt, is a pioneer of modern anaerobic wastewater treatment and his involvement in the development of our Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) systems, GWE’s ANUBIXTM product line, dates back as far as 1977.
- First R&D work with Prof. Willy Verstraete, at the University of Gent, Belgium
- 1978: First anaerobic pilot plant system installed at an enzymes factory in Belgium
- 1979: First anaerobic UASB installation on industrial wastewater in Belgium (2nd such installation in the world)
- 1984: Incorporation of Biotim N.V. in Belgium and development of an international licensee network
- 1991: Reorganization of Biotim N.V. and separation of its Asian activities under a new company called ENVIROASIA, founded by J.P. Ombregt
- 1999: ENVIROASIA begins expansion into other world markets, following the end of the agreement with Biotim
- 2003: Rebranding of ENVIROASIA to GLOBAL WATER ENGINEERING, to reflect our now worldwide reach
- 2005: Expansion of GWE portfolio of anaerobic processes
- 2006: Expansion into “green” energy and CDM-driven biogas projects
- 2010: GWE enters the organic Waste-to-Energy marketplace with RAPTOR®.
- 2012: Creation of our O&M (Operations & Maintenance) Department
- 2014: RAPTOR® waste-to-energy technology wins the IChemE ‘Energy Award’
- 2016: GWE takes over 100% ownership of American JV subsidiary Global Water & Energy, LLC.
- 2018: Global Water Engineering rebranding to Global Water & Energy (GWE).
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