Anglian wastewater site to pioneer green hydrogen production

Hydrogen production from water to fuel road vehicles is set to begin this summer at an Anglian Water wastewater recycling site in what the water forms says is a UK first.

The hydrogen will be generated through electrolysis – using renewable electricity to split water into its hydrogen and oxygen constituents. The electrolyser is integrated with a novel wastewater treatment process that has been constructed at Anglian Water’s Cambridge site. Anglian has struck a deal with hydrogen vehicle refuelling provider, Element 2 which will buy the hydrogen produced at the site.

The hydrogen production process is part of the Triple Carbon Reduction project which is funded through Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge. The project is a partnership including Anglian Water, Element Energy, Jacobs, Cranfield University, the University of East Anglia, Brunel University, Severn Trent Water, Scottish Water, Northern Ireland Water and United Utilities. It is “the first initiative to produce green hydrogen using water in the UK,” according to Anglian Water.

Element 2 will provide storage for the hydrogen produced at the Cambridgeshire site and transport it to its UK refuelling stations. The hydrogen will be used to fuel hydrogen fleet owners’ and operators’ vehicles; to support hydrogen engine development; and for trials of new, fuel cell vehicles.

The Triple Carbon Reduction scheme uses a number of innovative technologies to reduce emission s form the wastewater treatment process including harnessing nitrogen-consuming bacteria grown on and fixed to membranes – a membrane aerated biofilm reactor – to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and waste sludge.