Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has awarded an AMP8 contract for for a Bioflex Ammonia Recovery Pilot with an estimated value of £2 million (inc VAT) to Nijhuis Saur Industries UK and Ireland Ltd.

Scope covers a pilot project for ammonia from sludge recovery innovation (and associated equipment) with a value of approximately £2 million over the life of the contract. The technology will be supplied by Nijhuis and retained indefinitely.

The acquisition is part of a pilot process and follows initial market engagement exercises to identify and select suitable innovations. The initial soft market testing identified the company as the only single suitable supplier, with the nature of the specific solution being provided considered unique.

Earliest date the contract will be signed is 1 April 2026 and current estimated start and end contract dates

are 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2026.

The direct contract award has been made to the single supplier without competition for technical reasons

with a justification of “extreme and unavoidable urgency.”

The contract is for the acquisition of goods only for a part funded pilot for the extraction of ammonia from sludge.These will be tested as part of the innovation project to determine ongoing suitability.

“Funding for the requirement has a limited timeframe and therefore award is required imminently”. Welsh Water said in a transparency notice.

The ByoFlex® system from NSI Byosis recovers ammonia from highly contaminated substrates, like industrial/ municipal wastewater or digestate from foodwaste/agricultural/WWTP-sludge digester.