Chemelot’s roadmap for becoming water-circular

Focusing on safety, innovation, and sustainability

Chemelot is an industrial park in the south-eastern Netherlands municipality of Sittard-Geleen, Limburg. Its 60 chemical and materials plants form a unique community that is radically changing the view of the chemical industry by focusing on growth, innovation, and sustainability.

In 2018, the complex was named one of the most sustainable chemical sites in Europe, thanks to achievements in energy exchange and recycling. But it has ambitions to do more.

The challenge: establishing a shared vision for safe, sustainable water

Chemelot wants to be the safest, most competitive, and sustainable chemical and materials site in western Europe, by 2050, it aims to be sustainable, water-circular, and climate-neutral.

To meet this deadline, Chemelot needs to safeguard against any remaining chemical waste. It also means dramatically reducing the 42 million cubic metres of water it draws from the Juliana Canal, as well as its outflow of treated wastewater to the neighbouring Meuse River.

Before pursuing these goals, Chemelot already had a strong focus on collaboration and community. This new program asked for aligning of 60 individual plants, processes, and facility management organisations around a common set of goals.

To strengthen the project team, Chemelot called on Royal HaskoningDHV. As well as over 140 years of water engineering expertise, and a proven track record in wastewater treatment, we could call upon strong knowledge of the site, thanks to our longstanding partnership maintaining and upgrading its industrial sewers.

The solution: a phased approach to water treatment and use

A team of subject specialists was assembled, including senior process engineers in industrial wastewater treatment, demineralised water, and industrial cooling – as well as a dedicated project management expert. Together, in strong cooperation with client’s team members, they developed a roadmap for the whole Chemelot site.

First, the joint team carried out fact-finding studies and interviews with the complex’s biggest water users, to understand their processes and establish shared objectives. The team also analysed site data, creating Sankey diagrams to help stakeholders visualise water balance, as well as tracking potential chemical contaminants.

Next, in a workshop with the full team, we investigated the bottlenecks and opportunities, before conducting 15 explorative studies covering a shortlist of potential solutions.

Working together, the teams then explored key themes: reducing water intake, eliminating any remaining discharge of solids and microplastics – paying special attention to substances of high concern – and decreasing load to the wastewater treatment plant. Apart from the technical aspects, a water-aware program was added to the roadmap to align site users around their role in sustainability.

The result: a sustainable, water-circular, climate-neutral chemical site

Chemelot now has a clear roadmap towards water circularity. The next stage is to study and pilot the chosen solutions; the first pilot results are expected in 2027.

By drawing on our experience and expertise in sustainability and water resilience and combining this with the knowledge from the Chemelot team, they can be confident in reaching the sustainability goals. As a result, the complex can ensure business continuity and secure its license to operate while also delivering enhanced social and environmental value.

Lees hier nog meer over dit project: Brightsite - Roadmap Circular Water: met een gezamenlijk stappenplan naar ‘zero emission en water intake’ op Chemelot