Sludge could ‘help solve UK energy crisis’: Veolia

Sludge is “one answer to the UK’s energy crisis”, as more advanced technologies allow the industry to extract increasingly more gas from sewage to produce energy, according to Veolia.

The company said only 66 per cent of the country’s sewage is currently being anaerobically digested to produce biogas, but recent developments in technology will enable biogas from sewage could deliver nearly 1.7TWh energy, which could “help increase the resilience of the National Grid”.

Veolia called for more human waste to be being turned into energy, as industry groups predict an unprecedented “energy gap” looms. “We can now fully realise the benefits [of sludge],” the firm said.

Veolia UK’s chief operating officer for water John Abraham said: “Investment in new facilities will boost our renewable infrastructure and create jobs while reducing our carbon footprint.

“We need to stop relying on fossil fuels as human sewage could make a significant contribution to meeting our renewable energy targets, while keeping the lights on and taking pressure from the National Grid.”

Harnessing energy from human waste was first used in Exeter in 1895 to power Victorian streetlights, Veolia said. “Today, the potential power from human sewage could increase the resilience of the National Grid and help to keep energy bills down.”

This week, water regulator Ofwat published a series of reforms, including measures to create a new market in sludge – which, coupled with a water trading market, could be worth up to £1.6 billion.

Speaking at Utility Week Live, Severn Trent Water’s head of strategy Neil Corrigall said sludge will be the “next big market”, with competition in sludge treatment likely to be formally introduced before 2020.