Welsh Water Showcases ‘Poo Power’ Technology to Wrexham Glyndŵr University Students
9 November 2021
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW), the only not-for-profit utility company in Wales and England, has welcomed a group of renewable and sustainable engineering students from Wrexham Glyndŵr University to witness first-hand how its advanced anaerobic digestion (AAD) plant at Five Fords Energy Park, can put enough green gas into the network to power 30,000 family homes.
The company, which is on track to generate record levels of green energy this year, has invested heavily in renewable energy assets over recent years, including its flagship £36 million energy park in Wrexham, North Wales. This site alone now produces 40GWh of gas each year – which is fed into the local network and generates clean, green energy from sewage sludge through a state-of-the-art Advanced Anaerobic Digestion (AAD) facility.
With COP26 underway in Glasgow, the company has also hosted an education session for over 6,000 primary age pupils across Wales to build their knowledge of the role of water and waste in tackling climate change.
Ben Burggraaf, Head of Energy at DCWW said: “Welsh Water has ambitious targets to become 35% energy self-sufficient by 2025, and 100% energy neutral by 2050. So far this year, we’ve witnessed a 6% increase in the energy we generate through our extensive renewable portfolio, compared to levels seen in 2020. Our AAD site at Five Fords is a great example of the investment and innovation we’re undertaking what better way for students studying renewable energy at our local university to see the theory put into practice by visiting Five Fords.”
The students were accompanied by David Sprake, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Renewable and Sustainable Engineering at Wrexham Glyndwr. Speaking of the event, David said: “We had a fantastic visit to the site, Welsh Water staff were brilliant at explaining the process and showing us around making for a really beneficial and educational day for our students.”
Craig Williams, a student who attended the site, said: “The visit was really thought provoking and useful, it showed the real value of reusing waste."
Welsh Water last week announced that it has invested £153 million in the past six months on projects that will not only improve services for customers but will also help tackle the climate change crisis. As part of its £1.8 billion investment plan for 2020-2025, the company is also on track to generate record levels of renewable energy this year.
Welsh Water, which serves over three million people across most of Wales and some adjoining parts of England, relies heavily on energy to deliver its essential services. It currently generates 23% of its own energy needs through wind, hydro, solar and advance anaerobic digestion (AAD) with the rest procured from 100% renewable energy resources.
The company plans to invest a further £21 million to be 35% energy self-sufficient by 2025. As well as committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2040, the company aims to reduce total carbon emissions by 90% by 2030. Between 2020 and 2025, the company will invest £765 million in its wastewater assets, with £101 million to improve the performance of its combined storm overflows as part of its commitment to protect the environment.