Engineering firm bags funding for retrofit of biogas booster

Consulting engineer, Royal HaskoningDHV, has won UK government funding to retrofit its patented biogas production technology at a United Utilities sludge treatment plant in what the consultant says is UK first.

Royal HaskoningDHV expects the installation of its Ephyra technology at the water firm’s Stockport sludge treatment centre to up biogas production by more than 20% and generate less stabilised sludge recycled to land and reduce downstream methane emissions. This will, according to Royal HaskoningDHV, bring the site “close to achieving energy neutrality and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions”.

The consultant claims the retrofit of Ephyra to existing conventional anaerobic digesters will be a UK first. The operational demonstration of the technology is due to begin at the Stockport site by autumn 2024.

The funding was awarded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero through the Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator. The accelerator is managed by the Carbon Trust with support from Jacobs and Innovate UK KTN, and aims to reduce energy consumption, maximise resource efficiency, and cut greenhouse gas emissions in the water industry.