The UK will build the world's first carbon neutral wastewater treatment system

On May 25, 2023, Severn Trent announced the plan to build the world's first carbon neutral waste treatment plant in Staffordshire, which will transform a large carbon intensive wastewater treatment plant into the world's first carbon neutral wastewater treatment system. The project costs nearly £ 40 million and will start in September.

Severn Trent was established in 1974 as a regional state-owned water agency located in central England, responsible for water supply management, wastewater treatment, and disposal. This groundbreaking project has received support from all UK and Irish water companies, as well as international net zero partnerships with Danish and Australian Melbourne water companies. The new 'zero net center' has received support from the Water Authority's (Ofwat) Innovation Fund, which announced a cash injection of £ 10 million last week.

In addition, Horizon Europe will invest £ 900000 and Severn Trent will invest £ 28 million to achieve this initiative. The most promising technology will be integrated and applied to the same site for the first time to reduce and eliminate carbon -34000 tons of carbon will be eliminated annually, equivalent to 34500 trips per person between London and New York.

This new "clean zero center" already has advanced digestion and conversion technologies, which may change the face of wastewater management around the world.

In the new process, there is a technology from Suez Sewage Treatment Group, called "active layer", which is a new type of sludge plant cover. Through the use of catalytic materials and sunlight, the level of Nitrous oxide (one of the most effective greenhouse gases) is reduced to a lower level.

Other projects include cellulose recycling from the Netherlands, a long-standing study in the UK that removes toilet paper from wastewater and recycles it into a valuable and sustainable material that can be used for other purposes, such as insulation or building products. Low carbon technology and digital twins will also be included in this process. Severn Trent's project is one of 16 solutions, winning a £ 40 million share in the latest innovation competition by water regulatory agencies - the 'Water Breakthrough Challenge'.

The 'Water Breakthrough Challenge' encourages initiatives that help address the biggest challenges faced by the water industry, such as achieving net zero emissions, protecting natural ecosystems and reducing leaks, and creating value for society. Severn Trent also received £ 1.3 million in additional funding from Ofwat for innovative projects to address water leaks.

Dark fiber sensing may provide a fast, reliable, and cost-effective method of detecting leaks by using fiber optic cables that are already close to water pipes. The insights from the 'net zero center' will help determine and propose a roadmap for emissions reduction, thereby bringing benefits to the world. This will promote the development of new technologies, attract more research and development funds, and promote the achievement of the net zero emission target.