This in from Southern Water, in their own words. Ed
Southern Water is harnessing poo power to generate electricity at Sandown Wastewater Treatment Works.
The company is investing £700k on installing a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant at the works to capture bio-gas created during the treatment process.
Used to produce renewable energy
This gas, which would otherwise have been burnt off in a flare, can then be used to produce renewable energy – providing power and heat to the works, with any surplus exported to the National Grid.
As well as generating electricity, the CHP plant also recovers heat from the engine and exhaust systems via water from heat exchangers. This water is then used to warm the treatment tanks, helping speed up the bacterial digestion of the waste.
Reducing carbon emissions
Generating electricity through poo power in this way will enable Southern Water to reduce its carbon emissions from the site by approximately 1,400 tonnes a year.
The project is part of Southern Water’s multi million pound investment in carbon mitigation and energy efficiency schemes between 2010 and 2015. These will help reduce its carbon emissions and contribute to its target of generating 20 per cent of its energy usage from renewable sources by 2020.
Already in use elsewhere
Southern Water already harnesses poo power at 13 of its wastewater treatment works through the use of CHP plants.
The installation at Sandown, which is being carried out by Southern Water supplier Cogenco, is expected to be completed in the spring.
Morné Cloete, Southern Water Project Manager, said: “Harnessing recoverable energy through the use of CHP plants is just one of the innovative ways Southern Water is helping reduce its impact on the environment by reducing our carbon footprint while also cutting our energy costs.”
