Yorkshire Water and Anglian Water will collaborate in a short-term project in order to ensure sludge can be treated efficiently, using the anaerobic digestion (AD) method.
As part of the short-term partnership, the sludge will first be transported from Anglian’s treatment works in Great Billing to Yorkshire Water’s wastewater treatment facilities. Yorkshire Water has increased its treatment capacity with the introduction of the new Huddersfield AD plant, and can therefore accept the additional sludge from additional sources. Thanks to the agreement, this spare capacity is put to good use in the market and is a first for Yorkshire Water. That said, the utility is also speaking with other water and sewage companies to explore further use of its internal sludge treatment expertise.
“This sludge trade deal is a first for Yorkshire Water and illustrates the benefits available to our sector through collaboration with other companies,” said Kevin Spink, bioresources waste services manager at Yorkshire Water.
“We currently have some short-term sludge capacity available as a result of our new Huddersfield site beginning operation and we are pleased to be working with Anglian Water to deliver efficiencies.
“We are also working closely with others in the sector to expand trade deals and ensure sludge can be treated more efficiently.”
Anglian Water has also highlighted that biogas is an important part of the company’s route to reach net zero by 2030. The utility announced plans to maximise the value of biogas by upgrading biomethane and decarbonising its vehicle fleet using hydrogen and biomethane.
