Thames and SGN team up for biogas installations

Thames Water has appointed SGN Commercial Services to install biogas processing facilities at its wastewater treatment sites as part of a £70 million framework.

The eight-year contract will see the company design, build, operate and maintain the gas-to-grid installations, beginning with Deephams sewage works in north London.

Thames completed the industry’s first gas-to-grid technology project at its Didcot facility back in 2010 and now has plans to increase its installations with support from SGN.

Biomethane, as a heat and power alternative, will be created from sewage to offset more than 8,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released each year. SGN will add biogas upgrading and grid entry equipment to facilitate biomethane being injected into the local gas network infrastructure.

The potential for gas-to-grid injections from the UK wastewater sector could power more than 360,000 homes each year from biogas. As part of the sector-wide commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, solutions to lower emissions from anaerobic digestion facilities as well as gas-to-grid technologies are expected to become increasingly important.

Marcus Hunt, SGN’s director of commercial services and investments, said the company recognised the renewable energy investments required to ensure the sustainability of its gas networks and supporting decarbonisation goals including biomethane projects with the water sector.

Francis Paonessa, capital delivery director at Thames, said: “Installing this new technology means we can give back to our communities by using the leftover gas from our sewage treatment process to heat local homes with renewable energy. It will help in our plans to become a carbon negative business by 2040 with the first milestone: net zero 2030.”

Implementation is expected to be completed at Deephams in March next year to produce six million cubic meters of methane, which can heat 3,500 homes in Enfield each year.