Water-only trio unveil plans for net zero

Three water only companies have unveiled their respective plans to met the sector target of reducing their net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2030.

Bristol Water, Affinity Water and South East Water each outlined their plans based on, in varying proportions, paring back fossil fuel use and leakage, increasing operational efficiency and carbon offsets.

Bristol Water reported its use of gas-fired generation and heating and power from the grid made up in equal measure 92% of its emissions. Under its proposed route map the company will cut 36% of its 20 kt CO2e of current annual emissions by in-house generation of renewable electricity, remove 42% by buying renewable gas and 8% by buying renewable power. Reducing water demand will shave 5% form emissions under Bristols plan.

South East Water reports that 84% of its emissions of over 44 kt CO2e come from use of grid electricity with gas consumption and on0-site power each making up only 1%. So the bulk of its reductions will come from a shift to green sources of power with some carbon offset.

Of its remaining 16% of emissions, outsourced transport makes up more than half and its own fleet generates nearly a quarter. So it will look to moving away from petrol and diesel in its own fleets and ensuring its “outsourced partners share our net zero ambitions.” Nearly a fifth of its non-power emissions are operational with ozone treatment of water a particularly significant contributor. Among its highlighted, planned measures to address ozone treatment emissions are greater upstream catchment management and use of alternatives to ozone treatment.

Affinity Water estimates its annual emissions at some 40 kt CO2e a year from operational activities with other indirect emissions adding to that. The company says it has shifted to procuring 100% of its grid power from certified green sources and will reduce it’s fossil fuel consumption in on-site generation and increase its own renewables capacity to 10% of its demand by 2030.

The company places a strong emphasis on the need to encourage and assist customers to reduce their consumption. By 2030 it forecasts having “offered half of our customer base an actual or virtual home water saving visit.”

It anticipates a “minimal” need to offsetting through a “porfiolio of natural capital solutions.”