Utilities firm Yorkshire Water has partnered with gas specialist SGN Commercial Services and Centrica Energy Trading to set up biomethane plants at two of its wastewater treatment sites.
It has signed 15-year agreements with the two operators that will bring facilities to its Knostrop, in Leeds, and Blackburn Meadows, in Sheffield, wastewater treatment works. The plants will use biogas, a by-product of the sewage wastewater treatment process, and separate it into methane and other component gases.
The resulting biomethane will then be pumped into the local gas network via underground pipelines and used as a fuel in vehicles, homes and industrial processes. It is hoped the sites will be up and running by early 2025, when they will be capable of producing roughly 125GWh of biomethane annually, enough to heat more than 10,000 homes.
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Tom Hall, head of bioresources at Yorkshire Water, said: “We’re excited to be working alongside SGN Commercial Services and Centrica Energy Trading to make best use of the biogas Yorkshire Water produces through sewage treatment. We already benefit from biogas-fuelled renewable energy generation, but this project demonstrates our commitment to using markets to improve our operational efficiency, reduce customer bills and facilitate carbon emissions reductions in the wider economy.”
SGN’s business development director Marcus Hunt said: “SGN is committed to delivering a greener gas grid and continuing to be at the forefront of providing heat to UK homes and businesses. We’re delighted to announce this partnership with Yorkshire Water – it adds to our ambition to increase biomethane injection into the gas network to provide local customers with green gas and support decarbonisation plans.”
Kristian Gjerløv-Juel, director for renewable energy trading and optimisation at Centrica Energy Trading, added: “This agreement marks an important milestone for Centrica’s biomethane activities in the UK. Having recently expanded our capabilities to handle trading, nomination, and transportation of green gas in the UK market, we’re working to accelerate biomethane production across Europe and using our capabilities to help businesses deliver on their green procurement strategies and reduce emissions.”
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