« BackNews: Thames Water Created 140m Cubic Metres Of Biogas In 2021!

Thames Water Created 140m Cubic Metres Of Biogas In 2021!


Energy supplier Thames Water succeeded in creating an impressive 140 million cubic metres of green biogas at its sewage treatment works last year - which is enough to cook 112 million Christmas turkeys!

This milestone comes as part of the company’s plans to reach net zero by 2030, with Thames Water committing in June 2021 to lead the future of energy transition by revolutionising the way it generates and uses power. An important part of this ambition is to generate renewable power from waste.

The Crossness sewage works in Greenwich emerged as the biggest producer of renewable energy last year, generating over 18.5 million cubic metres. It was followed by the Mogden sewage works in Twickenham and Beckton in Newham, which generated around 18 million and 12 million cubic metres respectively.

Thames Water has already succeeded in cutting emissions by nearly 70 per cent since 1990. In fact, it has been producing renewable energy at its Mogden plant in London since the 1930s and it has pledged to become carbon negative by 2040.

In order to achieve this, it intends to reduce the use of fossil fuels across its operations, as well as using solar power and heat recovery initiatives, and collaborating with sustainable suppliers and partners.

Matt Gee, energy and carbon strategy and reporting manager with Thames Water, said: “Creating our own clean, green energy is an important part of our sewage treatment process and we’re generating more and more each year.

“Doing this allows us to power our sites with renewable and eco-friendly fuels, and as we continue to generate more, we want to export it to be used in our local communities. 

“This is just a part of our long-term plan to be net carbon zero by 2030, which is a key part of our company-wide turnaround plan to ensure we perform in the way that our customers, communities and the environment expect from us.”

One of the by-products of the sewage treatment process is sludge and biogas can be created by feeding this sludge into a digester tank, where anaerobic digestion can take place.

The energy that is then generated can be used to power sewage treatment works, so that fossil fuels don’t have to be relied upon and the environment afforded greater levels of protection. 

The biogas generated is a clean and renewable source of energy and, because no combustion is involved, there are no greenhouse gas emissions associated with its production.

It can also help to reduce both soil and water pollution. A wide variety of materials can be broken down into biogas, including rubbish and waste, animal manure, plant material, sewage and food waste - which means that less waste is sent to landfill, which in turn prevents toxic liquids from draining into underground water sources.


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