Currently, our business uses a large amount of electricity (500 GWh in 2021/ annual bill of £46million) to pump and treat water and wastewater. The high rainfall levels, which are associated with climate change, that we have seen in recent years have significantly increased energy consumption.

By 2030, we plan to increase our electricity generation, through renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydro, to become 50% self-sufficient.

The electricity demand which isn’t covered by our own renewable generation, will continue to be supplied by 100% renewable electricity, which is mainly generated at UK offshore windfarms.

By 2050 we aim to become energy neutral, i.e. We will generate at least as much renewable energy as we consume, through increased self-generation, and continue to transition towards a circular economy approach.

To meet this ambition we need to make significant reductions in our energy consumption. This will initially be achieved through continuous improvement of our operational processes, for example by utilising energy efficient equipment such as blowers, heating and lighting, pumps and advanced process control. Our innovation programme will be key to achieving the step-change reduction in the next two decades by widely deploying novel water and waste water treatment technologies. Our research and innovation programme will be key to achieving the step-change reduction that is needed to support the 2040 targets and will require widespread deployment of novel waste water treatment technologies

Take a look at some of the work we have been doing across Wales and into England to increase our renewable energy footprint.