Fredericia Spildevand og Energi

What Fredericia Spildevand og Energi does

Fredericia Spildevand og Energi A/S (FRSE) is the 100% municipally-owned wastewater utility of Fredericia Municipality in Denmark, established on January 1, 2010 when the wastewater function was separated from Fredericia Kommune's Technical and Environmental Administration. The company operates the central Røde Banke treatment plant — a mechanical, biological, and chemical facility with 420,000 PE (population equivalent) capacity — supported by a district-wide sewer network, pumping stations, and approximately 87 rainwater basins. Treatment infrastructure includes thermal hydrolysis of sludge (in operation since 2001), a mid-pump station renovation to expand capacity, and trenchless strømpeforing pipe relining that extends pipe lifespan to roughly 100 years. The asset base was originally constructed in 1978 (150,000 PE) and expanded in 1990–1993 (230,000 PE) and 1998 (420,000 PE) to accommodate Fredericia's heavy industrial discharge load.

FRSE serves three customer groups: all residential households in Fredericia Municipality (regulated, automatic connection), industrial and commercial customers including Carlsberg Fredericia (with pre-treatment arrangements and dedicated account management), and Fredericia Municipality itself as the 100% owner. Revenue is generated through regulated volume-based wastewater tariffs set under Danish Forsyningssekretariatet oversight, supplemented historically by fixed annual connection charges (waived in 2021 due to energy savings and state revenue caps). Pricing is published annually in a public tariff schedule (takstblad), and FRSE holds among the lowest tariffs in the Trekantområdet region. The company is debt-free, rated 100% efficient in state benchmarking, and has reduced net energy consumption to near zero with a stated energy-neutrality target by 2025. Energy recovery includes heat supply to TVIS for several hundred households and biogas production from sludge processing, with phosphorus recovery for circular-economy reuse in development.

Strategically, FRSE is transitioning from a single-vertical wastewater utility into a broader municipal infrastructure platform: a new multi-utility holding company is planned for January 1, 2027 combining FRSE, Affald & Genbrug (waste), and a new technical water company. The 2026 appointment of Trine Hadrup as CEO and reassignment of Peter Daugbjerg Jensen to lead the technical water company are explicit leadership moves tied to this restructuring. The company participates in national research initiatives (VANDALF with University of Copenhagen, Biofos, and Vandcenter Syd; an EU Horizon 2020 application with SDU) targeting measurement of persistent contaminants in treated wastewater. Customers access FRSE via a self-service portal, SMS notification service, e-Boks digital billing (from 2026), and dedicated industrial account management, while major climate-adaptation projects are executed in long-term partnership with Per Aarsleff A/S.

Name

Fredericia Spildevand og Energi

Legal name

Fredericia Spildevand og Energi A/S

Website

https://frse.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fredericia Spildevand og Energi is a 100% municipally-owned Danish wastewater utility operating a 420,000 PE treatment plant, sewer network, and biogas/heat-recovery systems for Fredericia Municipality's households and heavy industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wastewater Treatment Services

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Reclamation & Reuse Production (Tertiary/Advanced Treatment) (EUANADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA), Nutrient Recovery from Sludge (Struvite, Ammonia/Phosphorus Recovery) (EUANAHAD), Emergency Response & Sewer Repair (Blockages, Collapses) (EUANACAL)

Keywords

• Wastewater treatment services
• Municipal sewer management
• Industrial wastewater handling
• Stormwater and climate adaptation
• Biogas and energy recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Fredericia

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Wastewater Treatment Services (Volume-based): Revenue is generated through regulated wastewater charges based on consumption volume (cubic meters). This is the primary revenue stream for the utility. Rates are subject to regulation by the Danish Forsyningssekretariatet (Utilities Secretariat).
2. Fixed Connection Charges: A fixed annual charge is applied to connected properties. In 2021, the fixed charge was waived (set to 0 DKK) due to energy efficiencies and the state's revenue cap. The standard fixed charge was previously 437.50 DKK incl. VAT.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fredericia Spildevand og Energi A/S operates the public wastewater utility for Fredericia Municipality in Denmark. The company collects, transports, and treats wastewater through a central treatment plant at Røde Banke with a capacity of 420,000 PE, supported by an extensive sewer network, pumping stations, and ~87 rainwater basins. It also recovers energy (biogas via thermal hydrolysis of sludge) and heat from wastewater, and delivers related services such as sewer flushing/CCTV inspection, rainwater separation, emptying services for unconnected properties, business metering, and mobile toilet rental.

Product overview

Fredericia Spildevand og Energi A/S operates as a municipal utility providing comprehensive wastewater management services for Fredericia Municipality. The core offering centers on the central treatment plant (Røde Banke) capable of 420,000 PE capacity with mechanical, biological, and chemical treatment, supported by extensive sewage network infrastructure including pumping stations and rainwater basins. Services span operational maintenance (flushing, CCTV inspection), climate adaptation projects (sewer renovation, overflow reduction), and customer-facing services (billing, emptying services, mobile toilet rental). The company is transitioning toward a multiforsyning (multi-utility) structure by 2027, integrating with waste management and technical water services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wastewater Management (Spildevandshåndtering) Core regulated service: collection, transport and treatment of wastewater for all connected properties in Fredericia Municipality, including sewer network management and pumping stations.
• Climate Adaptation of Sewer Infrastructure (Klimatilpasning) Infrastructure upgrades to protect the sewer system from increased rainfall, including pipe renovation (strømpeforing), rainwater basin management, and reduction of combined sewer overflows.
• Central Wastewater Treatment Plant (Renseanlæg Røde Banke)

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy savings of approximately 5,000 MWh/year since 2014, equivalent to ~4000 citizens' electricity consumption
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carlsberg FredericiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Carlsberg is establishing a pilot plant at their Fredericia facility to pre-treat their own wastewater, produce biogas and technical water. FRSE has supported this initiative as it represents the optimal environmental solution, since the high gas potential in Carlsberg's wastewater is best utilized before mixing with other wastewater streams. This aligns with FRSE's expanded strategy to take responsibility for the entire water cycle.
• BiofosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018FRSE participates in the VANDALF research project led by the University of Copenhagen, in partnership with Biofos (Copenhagen), Vandcenter Syd (Odense), and others, funded by the Innovation Fund. The project aims to develop better measurement methods for environmentally foreign substances in treated wastewater.
• Per Aarsleff A/ScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Since 2011, FRSE and Per Aarsleff A/S have operated in a partnering arrangement to climate-adapt the sewer system across Fredericia Municipality. The partnership is a collaborative model with strong team spirit and close dialogue between parties to ensure optimal solutions. The partnership spans multiple projects including pipe renewal, basin expansion, and climate adaptation work across various districts.
• Vejle SpildevandminorOthersFRSE shares consumption data with Vejle Spildevand, which handles billing and invoicing for Fredericia's wastewater customers. This is an operational data-sharing arrangement between neighboring utilities.
• Fredericia MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFredericia Municipality is the 100% owner of FRSE and the single shareholder. The municipality appoints 5 of 9 board members. FRSE collaborates closely with the municipality on climate adaptation projects, infrastructure planning, environmental compliance, and the new spildevandsplan (wastewater plan). A new multi-utility company is planned for 1 January 2027 combining wastewater, waste, and a future technical water company under one holding structure.
• Danva (Danish Water and Wastewater Association)minorOthersFRSE participates in Danva's voluntary benchmarking programs and industry working groups. FRSE collaborates with Danva on research initiatives including the VANDALF project for better measurement of environmentally foreign substances in treated wastewater, in collaboration with Biofos and others.
• University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFRSE participates in the VANDALF project led by the University of Copenhagen, which aims to develop better measurement methods for environmentally foreign substances (including PFAS) in treated wastewater discharge.
• TVIS (Trekantområdets Vejvarme I/S)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFRSE supplies heat recovered from treated wastewater to TVIS, which distributes it to several hundred households in the Fredericia area. This is a direct energy recovery collaboration from the thermal content of wastewater.
• SDU (Syddansk Universitet)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFRSE participates in an EU Horizon 2020 application in partnership with SDU and EU research institutions to develop measurement and treatment methods for persistent and mobile chemical substances that can harm the aquatic environment.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Veolia Water Technologies: Veolia is a global incumbent in water and wastewater treatment technology and operations, supplying membrane systems, biological treatment, and sludge processing equipment. Comparable as an established player operating broadly in the same wastewater treatment space, though it competes primarily as an equipment/technology vendor rather than a municipal operator.

Direct peers

• BlueKolding: BlueKolding is the multi-utility company for Kolding covering water, wastewater, heating, and waste. Comparable as a Danish municipal utility now operating a multi-utility model, similar to the holding structure FRSE is targeting for 2027.
• Biofos: Biofos operates large-scale wastewater treatment for the Copenhagen area and is co-listed with FRSE in the VANDALF research collaboration on environmentally foreign substances. Same business model (municipal wastewater treatment, sludge handling, energy recovery), same Danish regulatory framework, and similar mixed industrial/residential load profile.
• Vandcenter Syd: Vandcenter Syd is the municipal water and wastewater utility for Odense and is a fellow VANDALF project partner. Directly comparable as a Danish municipal utility operating mechanical/biological treatment, sludge processing, and energy recovery under the same Forsyningssekretariatet benchmarking regime as FRSE.
• HOFOR: HOFOR is one of Denmark's largest multi-utility companies, providing water, wastewater, district heating, and city gas in the Greater Copenhagen area. Comparable to FRSE in regulated municipal wastewater operations, energy recovery from sludge, and district heating integration, but at significantly larger scale.
• Aarhus Vand: Aarhus Vand is the municipal water and wastewater utility for Aarhus, Denmark's second-largest city. Comparable as a Danish municipal wastewater operator with industrial customer management, biogas production, and ambitious energy neutrality targets similar to FRSE's 2025 goal.
• Kolding Spildevand: Kolding Spildevand is the municipal wastewater utility for Kolding, another Triangle-area municipality adjacent to Fredericia. Comparable Danish municipal utility with similar mixed industrial/residential base and Forsyningssekretariatet benchmarking exposure.
• Vejle Spildevand: Vejle Spildevand handles wastewater for Fredericia's neighboring municipality Vejle and is already in an operational billing/data-sharing partnership with FRSE. Directly comparable in scale, regulatory regime, and customer segments (mixed residential and industrial).
• Norlys Vand (formerly Trefor Vand): Norlys (which absorbed Trefor) operates water and wastewater services across multiple Danish municipalities, including the Triangle area. Comparable Danish wastewater operator with industrial customer management and energy recovery; differs in being part of a larger consumer-owned energy group rather than a single-municipality A/S.

Regional players

• Horsens Vand: Horsens Vand is the municipal water and wastewater utility for Horsens, another mid-size Jutland municipality. Comparable in scale and regulatory framework, but geographically distinct from FRSE's Fredericia service area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/frse.dk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fredericia-spildevand-og-energi-a-s

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fredericia Spildevand og Energi