A large scale anaerobic digestion test facility could be created as University of York and Yorkshire Water work together to establish a centre of excellence for the green energy source.
The £1.2 million project has been confirmed, building on a five-year collaboration, with potential long-term savings eyed for bill payers.
Building on the globally unique System-60 AD research facility, the additional funding will advance the ground-breaking work of the Department of Biology. The focus will be Yorkshire Water’s Naburn site, by the River Ouse south of York, with further work at the campus.
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Yorkshire Water has committed £600,000 to the project, which will aim to transform AD performance, delivering environmental and financial benefits.
The work will strengthen the university's bio/circular economy research portfolio, contributing to the regional aspiration to become carbon neutral.
Tom Hall, Yorkshire Water head of bioresources, said: “Anaerobic digestion facilities are vital to the way we treat our sewage sludge both now and into the future. We currently treat around 145,000 dry tonnes of sewage sludge each year and this is likely to increase to around 180,000 dry tonnes by 2035 given population growth in our region and new regulations linked to phosphorus removal.
“This collaboration with the University of York is a vital part of Yorkshire Water's programme for improving the environment and supporting the company's commitment to net zero carbon emissions.”
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Academics are already helping Yorkshire Water to understand how existing anaerobic digestion facilities can be made to perform more effectively. It will now move on to increase digester throughput, boost renewable energy generation, which Richard Kershaw, Yorkshire Water wastewater innovation programme manager said would “ultimately provide our customers with value for money”.
Collaborative input from other water companies is welcomed and plans to scale up the research programme, expand the lab and pilot facilities as well as a large-scale test facility have also been proposed as part of a planned submission to the Ofwat Innovation Fund in November.
Professor James Chong, of University of York’s Department of Biology, said: “I'm very excited that a long-term partnership has developed from the work we have carried out with Yorkshire Water. This new project represents an important opportunity to develop both our fundamental understanding of the biology underpinning anaerobic digestion and how we translate this knowledge into real world applications, as a critical part of the 海角视频/global drive towards net zero.”
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Professor Matthias Ruth, pro vice chancellor for research, added: “The project will contribute to a sustainable green recovery from the pandemic, develop the intellectual foundations underpinning anaerobic digestion, and deliver real-world impact and benefits for the region's people, industries and environment.
“This long-term partnership will strengthen the bond between the institutions and represents a new chapter in our relationship.”
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