Utility Scottish Water is progressing towards energy self-sufficiency at its Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works. Last year, the site was generating 85 percent of its own energy after Veolia boosted the renewable energy derived from a combination anaerobic digestion of sludge and biogas fired combined heat and power (CHP). Measures installed to date at the site include a thermal hydrolysis process that has increased biogas production by around 10 percent and investment in an additional CHP unit to provide greater energy generation and to take advantage of the additional biogas. Recent estimates indicate that the water industry could be self-sustaining for electricity by harnessing the 11 billion litre annual flow of wastewater.
Fluence continues expansion in China
Fluence Corporation has signed a framework agreement to deliver six Smart Packaged wastewater treatment plants based on Fluence’s MABR technology (C-MABR) with partner Jiangsu Jinzi Environmental Science and Technology Company. The wastewater treatment projects are part of a public/private partnership in China’s Guizhou province. The agreement encompasses a total of six wastewater plants designed to deploy Containerised Smart Packaged MABR (C-MABR) technology ranging between 600 to 1,000 m3/day. The plants, which are part of a multi-million-dollar order, are expected to be delivered, installed and become operational during 2018.
IN BRIEF
De-mem has secured a AUD$800,000 project awarded to its subsidiary, Akwa-Worx in Caboolture, Queensland, Australia. The contract involves delivery of an integrated potable water treatment system, including chlorine dosing and media filtration. End user John R Keith Group will use the system to deliver high quality potable water to one of its sites in Northern Territories.
Bilbao Bizkaia Water Consortium, Udal Sareak, has renewed its contract with smart water company, TaKaDu, following a public tender in Spain. The contract will be managed by Envirodata, one of TaKaDu’s partners in Spain and South America (Chile and Colombia). Previously the Bilbao water supplier had used the system to help reduce its leakage level.
UK water utility regulator Ofwat has welcomed Rachel Fletcher as its new chief executive. Fletcher joined from energy industry regulator Ofgem, where she led the organisation’s Electricity Price Control Review. Her appointment followed the departure of Cathryn Ross, who left to take up an executive position at BT.
US water technology company Xylem continues its evolution into the smart water space with a US$397 acquisition of Pure Technologies in December. Xylem expects to achieve at least $12 million in annual cost synergies within two years of closing. Earlier in 2017, Xylem and Pure entered into an exclusive commercial partnership for the Middle East and Asia.
Dutchess County in the US has received $2.2 million in grants for water quality improvement from the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). In total, DEC has announced $87 million in grants for 95 water quality improvement projects in its latest round of funding, part of the $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act.
