What if wastewater could power your home and help save the planet? That’s exactly what researchers at the University of Virginia are working on in a bold new push to transform wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) into renewable energy powerhouses.
In partnership with South Platte Renew in Colorado and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, UVA engineers are developing a catalytic process to convert biogas, a mix of methane and carbon dioxide, into 100% Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). While methane from digesters is often used, CO₂ has traditionally been vented into the atmosphere. This project flips the script by reacting that CO₂ with green hydrogen (from solar-powered electrolysis), forming additional methane that can be injected directly into the natural gas grid.
Professor William Epling, the Department of Chemical Engineering Chair at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science, says “When it comes to climate change, chemical engineers are going to be key in solving it one way or the other…If you care about the environment, you should care about catalysis.”
The $2.3 million Department of Energy-backed initiative is now in its third year, and the implications are game-changing. If scalable, this process could allow WWTPs across the U.S. to produce high-purity RNG on-site, dramatically cutting emissions and boosting energy resilience.
Behind the science is cutting-edge catalysis, using nickel nanoparticles to speed up CO₂ conversion. UVA researchers, including postdocs and graduate students, are also conducting full life cycle and economic assessments to prove the tech is both climate-positive and cost-effective.
Wastewater isn’t just being treated, it’s being transformed. With innovations like this, the humble sewage plant might soon become America’s newest clean energy hero.
For Diamond Scientific, this signals a new frontier. As WWTPs shift from waste processors to energy producers, the need for advanced gas monitoring, control systems, and emission analysis tools will only increase. Reliable measurement of methane, hydrogen, and CO₂ is critical to optimizing performance and safety.
