The Israeli company Emefcy has developed a low cost and energy efficient wastewater treatment system that has been deployed globally, from Ethiopia to the Virgin Island of St. Thomas.
The company’s award-winning membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) reduces energy consumption by up to 90 percent and sludge yield by half compared to conventional aerobic wastewater treatments. Designed for use in poorer, remote areas that suffer from water shortages, the system is set to make a big splash in China.
Part of China’s five-year plan for development includes installing wastewater treatment plants in about 60,000 rural villages, serving over 400 million citizens. The specs for this $15 billion project match well with Emefcy’s approach, CEO Eytan Levy told Israel21c.
Water before (left) and after treatment in Emefcy’s system. Photo: courtesy
“Last March we started speaking with many strategic partners and government officials there, and came up with a plan now being implemented to establish our own production facility in China, as well as a separate sales office,” Levy said.
Emefcy has signed agreements to provide core components, construction, and maintenance guidance to the Chinese companies that won tenders to build the plants in several provinces. Active discussions are taking place with integrators in additional provinces, with the aim of covering the majority of the market potential in China.
Levy, who previously cofounded AqWise, an Israeli provider of advanced biological wastewater treatment systems, said Emefcy is the first in the world to provide commercial wastewater treatment solutions based on MABR technology.
“Like a lung in a body, the sleeve’s large surface area provides oxygen to the wastewater. It’s a much more efficient process with minimum impact on the environment,” Levy said. “In China they currently need to feed their biological wastewater treatment plants with electricity, so this will be a lifesaver.”
Founded in 2008 with investments from General Electric and several VCs, Emefcy went public in December 2015 on the Australian Stock Exchange. The Caesarea-based company has raised a total of $35 million from investors in China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, the United States, and Israel.
About 40 staffers in Israel will be joined by some 50 in China over the next year, and a subsidiary is under formation for tech support in the US.
(via Israel21c)
[Photo: Israel21c]