Wastewater treatment plants play a vital role in the green transition, but they are also one of the largest sources of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions – a greenhouse gas with a significant climate impact. Emissions vary over time and across different aeration tanks, making them difficult to document and reduce using today’s monitoring methods.
KhaosGuard is an innovation project that aims to develop a new solution for continuous monitoring of nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater treatment plants. Using laser-based scanning technology, the project will enable operators to measure total emissions and identify where and when they occur. The goal is to provide wastewater utilities and regulators with a stronger foundation for documenting emissions and targeting reduction efforts.
Continuous monitoring of nitrous oxide emissions
The project builds on an open-path laser scanning technology designed to monitor an entire aeration tank rather than measuring emissions at individual points. The technology will calculate total nitrous oxide emissions and identify where they occur within the treatment process.
This knowledge can help wastewater treatment plants optimise operations, document the impact of emission reduction measures, and improve the basis for future greenhouse gas reporting.
From research to operational monitoring
The project is carried out by KhaosGuard in collaboration with DTU and BIOFOS.
The project includes further development of the existing prototype, installation and calibration at a wastewater treatment plant, and validation of measurements against the sensor technologies currently used in the sector. In parallel, an operational data product will be developed to support day-to-day use of the solution at wastewater treatment plants.
The technology builds on research carried out at DTU Electro at Risø, where a significant part of the development activities will also take place. The solution will subsequently be tested under real operating conditions at BIOFOS to demonstrate its practical application.
Part of the Risø SME Innovation Platform
The project is one of 15 innovation projects within the Risø SME Innovation Platform, where companies and research institutions collaborate to develop and demonstrate new green technologies. The platform provides companies with access to research expertise, testing facilities, and strong innovation partnerships based at Risø.
Explore the other projects on the innovation platform
- PFASOL – PFAS in solar power plants – mapping and documentation of PFAS in solar power plants.
- OmniPFAS – flexible solutions for removing PFAS from various types of water.
- KhaosGuard – continuous monitoring of nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater treatment plants.
- RisøLith – 3D printing at the nanoscale at low temperatures.
- Circular solar-powered lighting – off-grid lighting with a focus on circularity and dark-sky principles.
- Heat-driven water-based cooling technology – utilization of excess heat for energy-efficient cooling.
- Reliable water supply – mobile solutions for producing safe drinking water.
- Searine M360 – electric propulsion system for small boats.
- Chemical plastic recycling – conversion of plastic waste into methanol.
- NanoShield – UV and nanotechnology that inhibits bacterial and algal growth on metal surfaces.
- Lab2Land – Greenlandic rock flour for carbon sequestration and soil improvement.
- 3D printing for flood protection – nature-based barriers printed directly into the landscape.
- Recycled Wind Turbines for 3D-Printed Homes – fiberglass from end-of-life wind turbines as a building material.
- Circular Plastic without Permanence – biodegradable plastic made from brewery waste.
- Circular Battery Design – battery systems designed for disassembly, repair, and reuse.
The project is part of the Risø SME Innovation Platform, which was developed as a coordinated initiative under the Investment Support Scheme for Green Innovative Technologies and is administered by Clean. The initiative is funded by REACT-EU funds administered by the Danish Board of Business Development.
