Raglan Community challenged to turn wastewater into useable energy

How can the Raglan community use a circular economy model to turn their waste water into energy?  Wintec researchers with the help of Raglan Ward councillor Lisa Thomson are challenging Raglan people to work together and do just that. 

By using wastewater to generate energy, Raglan has the potential to become a leader in regenerative practices towards a circular economy says Cr Lisa Thomson.

“I met Dr Henk Roodt and Mariana van der Walt when I attended a symposium at Wintec recently and they proposed this idea which responds to what Raglan stands for as a community. We are a small community with a big heart when it comes to caring about our environment.

“I am inspired by initial feedback and we now need to get more of the community behind this, including youth… everyone. Raglan is our mahi, let’s make this work.”

Cr Thomson shared the idea with local business owners at the Raglan Chamber of Commerce Breakfast last Thursday and says the message was met with support and enthusiasm.

Using wastewater to generate energy is the key to creating an energy self-sufficient future say Dr Roodt and Mariana Van der Walt from Wintec’s Centre for Transdisciplinary Research and Innovation when they met with members of the Raglan community last week. 

They are challenging the Raglan community to engage with a circular economy model, which means using the value in products and services regarded as waste, to guide them towards a sustainable future. In this case it’s the energy from wastewater – a by-product quite literally going to waste.

  Circular economy encourages consumers, manufacturers and businesses to reuse pre-existing resources in new and practical ways, rather than buying and producing new products and services. 

 “In a circular economy, products are designed to enable their reuse and recycling and energy production is based on renewable resources,” Dr Roodt said. 

The Circular economy model isn’t something new, it is already being implemented around the world.  Director of Research at Wintec, Mariana Van der Walt visits similar sized communities off-shore and brings innovative ideas and inspiration back to Wintec. Currently her team is working with communities on projects such as a youth business development scheme in Taumaranui and an initiative in Thames where local businesses are passing on energy savings to fund community projects.

“We want to bring partners on board to see if a circular economy model will work in Raglan.  We know it can work and we want to do here what’s already being done around the world,” says Ms Van der Walt. 

If you are interested in being part of this project contact Lisa Thomson.

Find out more about Wintec Research and Innovation here.

Image: The picturesque Raglan harbour.