Sustainable infrastructure

UK exit from North Sea energy project risks ‘slowdown’

Efforts to integrate the UK’s energy network with its European neighbours have been hit by its post-Brexit exclusion from a North Sea co-operation project, a senior National Grid director has acknowledged.

National Grid energises new interconnector with France

Fletcher: Nature-based solutions should be default in PR24 plans

Thames names contractors to deliver £4bn investment

Thames has named the contract partners it will work with to deliver £4 billion of capital investment during AMP7 across London and the Thames Valley.

Water ‘centre of excellence’ due in Spring

Meeting the challenges of climate change, over population and PR19 will take innovation and collaboration both within and beyond the water sector. To realise this, a water "centre of excellence" has been conceived and will be launched in the spring.

Pollution incidents ‘worst since 2011’

Pollution incidents reported by water companies rose in 2019, with Southern, South West and Northumbrian named as the worst offenders, while Wessex, Severn Trent and United Utilities each scored well.

Welsh Water asks government to ban plastic wet wipes

Welsh Water have called for wet wipes that contain plastic to be included in a government proposal to ban single-use plastics. The move is supported by 84 per cent of customers.

National Grid to develop proposals to link up British and Dutch windfarms

MOSL calls for innovation fund to be inclusive of non-domestic sector

Innovation in the water sector should not overlook the role the non-household suppliers and customers can play. MOSL has urged the sector to include non-household usage, data and the stakeholders as it moves forward with the 2050 Water Innovation Strategy

Fletcher raises ‘serious concerns’ to PAC

Following a scathing government report on the management of water supplies, Ofwat's chief executive has defended its approach to resilience, bills and investment

Anglian calls for longer-term resource planning

Public vastly underestimate their water consumption

The majority of householders have no conception of how much water they use, with 78 per cent believing they consume under 60 litres a day. This is according to a new survey from Water UK, which says the results underline the need for education around the value of water to help people lower their usage.

CMA ‘on track’ to deliver PR19 redeterminations next month

The Competition and Markets Authority has told Utility Week it expects to hit its deadline of mid-September to deliver its first take on the appeals by four water companies to Ofwat's final determinations on their AMP7 business plans. All eyes will be on any adjustments to WACC, what value is placed on customer input and the levels of investment permitted.

Defra to bolster water protection targets within Environment Bill

The long-awaited Environment Bill will enshrine protection for waterways that may include new PCC targets, changes to abstraction licences, review of agricultural and wastewater pollutants that enter waterways.

Offshore grid debate signals winds of change

Displaced ‘Class of 2020’ to be at heart of Northumbrian innovation festival

Annual water survey finds low awareness of social tariffs

Thames awards first major contract of AMP7

Thames has awarded the first major contract of its capital investment programme for AMP7 to Laing O'Rourke to upgrade the sewage works at Beckton ahead of Thames Tideway's completion in 2024.

Agriculture Bill could be ‘game-changing’ for catchment management

The Agriculture Bill has the potential to transform catchment management by water companies, landowners, farmers and other stakeholders with subsidies available for farmers who employ environmental land management, according to Anglian Water's head of public affairs Daniel Johns.

Yorkshire Water agrees £60m sludge removal contract

Yorkshire Water has agreed a contract with Suttons Tankers for the removal of sludge from its wastewater treatment sites that it claimed will cut the company’s carbon emissions by 15 per cent. As part of the £60 million deal, 21 drivers and 33 vehicles have been transferred from Yorkshire to Suttons.