United Utilities' scheme in partnership with the National Grid to use anaerobic digestion to produce biogas at its Davyhulme sewage treatment works for grid injection and vehicle fuel has been dropped after Xebec, the preferred specialist technology supplier, withdrew from the UK market. The resulting delay to the project meant it could not benefit from a grant from the Government’s Waste & Resources Action Programme (Wrap).
The new demonstration plant would have been the first large scale biomethane gas to grid injection system in the UK which would allowed a comparison of the relative efficiency and cost effectiveness of the three main uses for biogas – CHP, gas grid injection and vehicle fuel.
United Utilities said that it needed to implement its enhanced sludge programme and had decided to use all the biogas for combined heat and power generation instead.
Thames Water’s project at its Didcot sewage treatment works which delivered the first-ever biogas pumped into the grid in October 2010 stalled just one month into production. The scheme, a joint venture between Thames Water, Centrica and Scotia Gas Networks, has not operated since – attributed to initial problems with new equipment and subsequent gas production problems at the site in the past six months.
Thames Water is hopeful that gas production will be fully operational by the end of 2011.
The Silvertown Tunnel’s pumping system is reducing the risk of flooding, delays and costly maintenance, while supporting the long-term resilience of London’s transport network, says Ian Ireland, large pumping projects programme manager, Xylem UK.
In a TV show that will explain the complex journey of the wastewater treatment process, Lakeside Equipment Corporation is set to feature in US Public Television’s All Access program with Andy Garcia.
Environmental Services & Solutions (ESS) Expo, the UK’s largest environmental event, has released the full speaker programme for its 2025 event, which now features seven shows spanning all corners of the environmental sector, under one roof at the NEC Birmingham.
We are exhibiting at WWEM – Water, Wastewater and Environmental Management Expo, which is one of the eight exhibitions taking place at the NEC, Birmingham 17-18 September 2025 as part of ESS Expo 2025. Please come along and visit us at Stand WW-S60.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video. 
What is to be done about the UK’s failing utilities? Listen to Professor Dieter Helm explore the options to tackle the UK’s failing utilities – Thames Water, the Royal Mail and Network Rail in particular.