Sanderco
Basic information
Project Title
Sanderco
Full project title
A fully functional, circular and low emission sand battery, with sewage sand as a source material
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
A High-temperature thermal storage system (aka ‘Sand Battery’) to store residual heat captured from industrial processes and green energy sources, enabling our customers (B2B) to transition towards clean energy, thereby net-zero emissions
Geographical Scope
National
Project Region
Netherlands
Urban or rural issues
It addresses urban-rural linkages
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Sanderco specialized in high thermal energy storage devices aka sand batteries, integrating the core principles of sustainable clean energy transition by converting sand from the sewage treatment plant to an energy source that stores thermal energy sufficient enough to contribute to the district heating system in the Netherlands. Considering the research and preconceived knowledge of high thermal holding capacity of sand, this project has put the material to the best use. While heating is an integral part of life in the cold months, this sand battery stores industrial residual heat and excess solar energy in the form of heat which is later used to heat water for the central heating system. The constant exposure of heat to the impure sand eliminates the toxins over time providing purified sand good enough to be used for other purposes in construction. This conceptual idea offers a groundbreaking solution to addressing the current energy crisis and also eradicates all the unsustainable approaches in heating and purifying sand. This slow yet steady process brings back the natural harmony and balance in nature throughout its lifecycle.
Key objectives for sustainability
Our key objective in terms of the source material was sustainable and scalable, multi dimensional use of polluted sand, with minimum residual material and cleaning costs which are currently being deployed right now. Since the current cost for cleaning is not economical and is expected to grow significantly as the residual polluted sand from STP’s increases, our focus started off by targeting that. Our initial explorations were focused on cleaning of the sand. However, upon a few experiments, we came to the conclusion that working with the polluted sand as is, would be a more ideal, economical and sustainable approach. The sand battery idea entirely rejects the approach of cleaning the sand to purify. We focus only on drying and thereby separating the sand particles. This approach employs far less steps as opposed to cleaning. Since the separated sand particles are further used either in the battery in case of small sand particles, or the mycelium sheet made of larger particles with natural elements like leaves, sticks, twigs etc which validates zero waste cycle. An added advantage to this is not just clean energy, but due to constant exposure to heat over a large period of time, a portion of sand gets periodically purified which can either be discarded and used or kept as such. Our idea addresses our immediate concern of surplus of available polluted sand by putting it to use for a non-toxic, clean, utilizable output. As we also skip the cleaning process entirely, all the monetary and environmental costs associated with it are by default nullified. This project can be exemplary in terms of being an economical clean energy source with minimum use of new virgin materials.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
While we focused largely on sustainability, a key point which was also taken into consideration was the look & feel of it. We understand that while the product delivers an environmental value, it must not deteriorate nature or the surroundings therein either visually or otherwise. As such, we emphasized on using materials which blend well with the surrounding area, and are also not jarring to look at. It was also important to us, to not use materials which are not sustainable or might pollute after discarding. For this purpose, we decided to give the battery a Mycelium coat. This serves two purposes; 1. The Mycelium is grown on separate sand particles from our original source. This ensures that we use no virgin materials for production, and have negligible environmental impact post use. 2. Reduces cost of production of coating. Mycelium can be easily grown in labs and is economical. Taking into consideration that these batteries will be easily visible to the eye and have a sizable footprint, we also worked on making various designs of the final product. We concluded that a bullet shaped (cylinder with a tapering end on the top) battery will merge well with surroundings while also reducing external damages from rain, snow which can accumulate. It is important to take in account the size of the end product and the conditions in which it will be kept which may cause constraints in designing an aesthetic product
Key objectives for inclusion
The fact that the raw material which is the sewage sand is currently discarded as waste at the price of the company is eliminated by repurposing the existing waste stream through our innovative sand battery solution. This benefits both the company and Sanderco in fully utilizing the discarded waste in a circular process, which not only brings down the initial cost but also makes the process fully sustainable and inclusive. Considering the mandatory requirement of energy source to heat our buildings, the sand battery integrates in our daily life providing sustainable clean energy. This is very accessible as the system can be easily integrated into existing central heating systems, eliminating the need for new installations, but only minimal cost for building the sand batteries is required. This thoughtful approach aligns with the governing principles of circular economy and sustainable green energy transition evoking new societal models of utilizing the available resources efficiently and eliminating the concept of waste in every area.
How Citizens benefit
The solution of the sand battery has global application, considering the constant need for energy to heat the building to achieve the comfortable indoor temperature for everyone to use. While such technology has a beneficial outcome, it is also believed to provide a huge contribution towards the entire energy sector meeting the energy demand in every municipality across The Netherlands, which in turn navigates towards providing clean affordable energy to the citizens.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Innovative character
The idea behind utilizing the sand removed from sewage in a sand battery is to address two important challenges simultaneously: energy storage and sand disposal. As the amount of sand removed from sewage increases each year, finding an effective and sustainable solution becomes crucial. By using this sand in a sand battery, we can store the energy required for heating homes. Sand batteries are a type of energy storage system where the sand serves as a medium for storing and releasing energy. This innovative approach not only provides a renewable and efficient energy source for heating, but also helps in reducing reliance on traditional fossil fuel-based heating systems. But the benefits don't stop there. Over time, as the sand is used in the battery, it goes through a purification process. The battery's operation helps cleanse the sand, removing impurities and contaminants that may have been present in the sewage. This purification process enhances the quality and usability of the sand, making it suitable for various applications beyond energy storage.The concept of a circular life cycle emerges from this innovative approach. Instead of simply disposing of the sand removed from sewage, we are reusing it in a valuable and sustainable way. This circular approach minimizes waste and maximizes the value and lifespan of the sand. Overall, this approach of utilizing sewage sand for a sand battery not only provides a solution for energy storage but also contributes to resource management and environmental sustainability. It showcases the potential for creative and efficient solutions that can address multiple challenges at once.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Our team is truly eclectic in terms of subject expertise and work experience. In the initial stages of the challenge, a clear outline was made according to individual strengths and their area and extent of contribution. However 3 main knowledge fields exchanged during our challenge were; Material Science, Industrial Design and Business (Entrepreneurship). Vivian And Aswini are experts on Bio-materials and also have interest and experience in working in the lab. As such, the lab work was largely headed by them, right from researching the tests, talking to experts about materials to be used, conducting the experiments and recording the data. Aswini, having worked with Mycelium before,came up with the idea originally to use Mycelium as an insulator & took lead in conducting lab tests for the same with Vivian’s support. Nadya, having a background in Industrial Design engineering, was largely responsible for looking at the product attributes as a whole. She also contributed in maintaining and recording all the experiment's data and cataloging all the necessary information. Pratik, having a background in entrepreneurship looks after our marketing and branding plans, and focuses on scalability, by virtue of contacting potential clients, stakeholders and angel investors. He is also largely responsible for the overall outward communication on behalf of the Sanderco team. Vignesh was contributing with his technical know-how and also on the functional aspect of the prototype. Since the roles are clearly defined, there is a symphony in the way we operate and objectives are met without delays or friction.
Methodology used
In this project, we conducted low-tech experiments and research utilizing the BlueCity lab, enabling us to gain a profound understanding of sewage sand properties. The lab's detailed analysis of sand impurities supported our research on purifying the sand from toxins, crucial for its use in the sand battery. We identified additional impurities like twigs and leaves, separating them from the sand. The larger impure contents within the materials are repurposed into mycelium sheets, while the sand particles are used in the sand battery, ensuring zero waste. This comprehensive approach guarantees safety for both the public and the environment. Additionally, we explore ways to close the loop, enhancing the project's sustainability. On the business aspect, getting into contact with the potential customers helps us to see the needs and goals of the potential market.
How stakeholders are engaged
SanderCo has been possible with a collaboration between three main entities, BlueCity who facilitated the Circular Challenge Program, WBL for providing us the source material along with expert guidance and AquaMinerals as knowledge and network partners. Blue City set the stage for the challenge and provided us with resources for our experiments including those in the Lab, and other workshops such as Branding, Pitching etc. They also facilitated a dialogue between Startup Owners within the BlueCity community and industry experts who provided us with their subject expertise.
WBL was the main entity which provided us with the problem and the source material (Residual Sand). They outlined the challenge for us, gave us the scientific data analysis of the sand and the constituents therein, and other relevant company details. This helped us form an informed decision which will suit the necessary requirements. People from WBL were also our mentors during this process and we continue this collaboration with them. We are also discussing a potential pilot project with WBL for product market fit, and also to refine our technology and experiment with different materials. AquaMinerals was involved as a knowledge partner in terms of providing scientific resources and advising us on scalability and networking. We are also discussing their potential involvement with them for our pilot project and if we can leverage their resources and space to experiment.
WBL was the main entity which provided us with the problem and the source material (Residual Sand). They outlined the challenge for us, gave us the scientific data analysis of the sand and the constituents therein, and other relevant company details. This helped us form an informed decision which will suit the necessary requirements. People from WBL were also our mentors during this process and we continue this collaboration with them. We are also discussing a potential pilot project with WBL for product market fit, and also to refine our technology and experiment with different materials. AquaMinerals was involved as a knowledge partner in terms of providing scientific resources and advising us on scalability and networking. We are also discussing their potential involvement with them for our pilot project and if we can leverage their resources and space to experiment.
Global challenges
The evolving economic and political landscape has highlighted the urgency of addressing the energy crisis, particularly in the realm of heat generated through gas. In response, there is a proposal to introduce a new method aimed at providing a locally sustainable circular solution. This method involves the storage of heat derived from renewable sources, offering a potential remedy to the energy challenges at hand. Simultaneously, many countries are actively pursuing a more sustainable future by adopting ambitious goals centered around affordable and clean energy for daily life. This signifies a collective effort towards mitigating the impact of traditional energy sources on the environment. Moreover, the increasing scarcity of sand in some countries has emerged as a concern. Rather than unused sand left as landfill from sewage, a proposal to repurpose this waste as an alternative. This not only aligns with the global push for sustainable practices but also addresses the issue of dwindling sand resources, presenting an innovative solution to a pressing environmental challenge.
Learning transferred to other parties
The technology of using sewage sand for thermal energy in a sand battery can be replicated and transferred across all the areas around the world where there is a significant heat demand, particularly during the winter. The combination of using sand from the sewage to be used as a heat storage would still be feasible but variations in climate and lifestyle might result in different toxins present in raw material, which needs specific research and analysis catered to the environment particularly with respect to the initial cleaning before using it for the sand battery. Sanderco also focuses on utilizing affordable local solutions in terms of insulation material and upcycled containers to make the sand batteries. It is more ideal to replicate in areas where there is a prominent use of central heating systems as there is no loss in efficiency and affordability so the investment of building new pipelines can be eliminated. In other respects we do not see any foreseeable risk in replicating the technology and products elsewhere as our core vision is to address the global energy crisis. Lastly, as it mainly uses low tech methods, it can easily be replicated in other places with less access to high tech sources.
Keywords
Circularity
Sustainability
Clean energy
Back to Nature
Local
