On behalf of GIZ in Brazil AKUT is commissioned to develop a new framework for improved energy efficiency in urban water supply systems.

Water resources management in Brazils is one of the sectors with a energy demand in relation to other public services. The water supply system is characterized by low efficiency. Supply systems are mostly outdated and in ailing condition.

The project is structured into four fields of activities: (1) support of the Brazilian Ministry of Cities (MCid) in developing new funding instruments with the goal of energy efficiency; (2) organization of interinstitutional and intersectoral dialogues; (3) Elaboration and application of technical and economical energy efficiency instruments   and measures and (4) Extension and qualitative improvement of consultancy services for the water management sector concerning energy efficiency.

The project timeline is scheduled from beginning of 2016 until the end of 2018. AKUT has organized a close collaboration with the swiss engineers “Skat Consulting AG” (specialized on energy efficiency measures) and the Portuguese Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC, Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil) whose experience in the national initiative for loss control (iPerdas, Iniciativa Nacional para o Controle Eficiente de Perdas) will be essential for the success of this project.

AKUT has been awarded with a contract by GIZ (German Technical Cooperation) to continue its institutional strengthening project for ENACAL in Nicaragua.

A higher efficiency in water supply and sanitation is the principal objective of this technical cooperation. The measures are part of the institutional strengthening of the national water supply and sanitation (WSS) company “Empresa Nicaragüense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados – ENACAL“. In addition to the ongoing assistance at the offices Boacco and Chontales this stage of the project will also include the offices in the departments St. Tomás, Camoapa and Acoyapa.

The project comprises the following components:

The improvement of service quality (duration of supply and customer services), a reduction of receivable accounts and enhanced processes for result and effect oriented planning services, monitoring and evaluation. This shall be achieved through the introduction of the GIS based system SIGIL.

The reduction of physical water losses and energy costs as well as increased revenues through extension and maintenance of a customers register are measures to limit the operational costs of ENACAL.

A modern surface waters monitoring system will be established for the supervion of receiving water bodies.

The operational management of 14 wastewater treatment plants of ENACAL will be improved in order to comply with legal requirements regarding outflow water quality of wastewater plants.

Timeframe of the project is 3 years.

Within the framework of the project „Power Generation from Biogas for Improved Agro-processing Efficiency“ AKUT has been assigned by the GIZ with the planning and installation of demonstration biogas pilot systems in various parts of the country and for substrates (residual organic waste material) from various agricultural value chains.

AKUT fixed dome plants have shown good performances in Kenya and can therefore serve as a basis for standard replicable plants that shall be developed: With adapted design and stirred reactors for different substrates and usage.

At the same time construction companies, project developers and engineers will be trained by AKUT at those pilot systems.

Timeframe of the project will be approximately one year.