WORTHING, UK – Water utility Southern Water is increasing the amount of combined heat and power (CHP) it produces across its wastewater treatment plants.
Five sites across Kent, Sussex and Hampshire are replacing CHP engines with two sites – Budds Farm and Millbrook – set to have additional engines.
After the engine upgrades Budds Farm will generate 95% of its power demand and Millbrook will be completely self-sufficient.
The utility hopes to increase the 17% of electricity it currently generates from 16 CHP sites at sludge treatment centres.
In 2015 Southern Water generated 77 gigawatt hours (GWh) of power, exporting 13 GWh to the national grid.
Three contractors installing the CHP engines include Edina, Clarke Energy and Veolia.
Martin Ross, Southern Water energy manager, said: “The capturing of biogas is a double win because not only do we collect free fuel but we also prevent the release of methane which has a global-warming potential 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.”
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#WaterChat: Barry Cleasby, Southern Water
