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United Utilities (UU) cut its carbon footprint by 11 per cent last year due in part to a drive in renewable energy production.
In the twelve months ending in March this year, the water firm’s carbon dioxide equivalent dropped to 449,042 tonnes.
UU has reduced its carbon emissions by 23 per cent since 2005-6 while the latest Environment Agency ‘eco-friendly table’ ranked UU joint second out of the ten UK water and sewerage companies in 2012-13 – up from third the year before.
The company last year completed a £100 million programme, using excess sludge to power its Davyhulme wastewater site.
Steve Mogford, chief executive of UU. said: “The recent completion of our innovative, award winning, £100m+ recycling and energy plant at our Davyhulme wastewater site has contributed to our highest ever renewable energy production in 2013/14.”
According to Mogford, the renewable energy it produced made up to around 17 per cent of UU’s total electricity consumption, up from 13 per cent the year before, and had helped it avoid energy purchase costs of around £10 million, while attracting renewable incentives of around £5 million.
UU plans to further increase its renewable energy production over the next few years.
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