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cleaner, greener ways of producing hydrogen.


Capturing carbon New resource recovery opportunities were explored during the technology showcase, both of which have the potential to simultaneously improve the wastewater treatment process while generating clean hydrogen. The first was from Hazer Group, an Australian company which produces fuel-cell grade hydrogen and high- quality graphite from methane, with low CO2emissions.


“Rather than typical gas-based hydrogen production which produces CO2 as a by-product, we produce graphite – a solid, capturable and usable product,” said chief executive Geoff Ward. “It’s a clean and cost-effective technology and, when paired with renewable biogas, has the lowest emissions profile of any available technology - going beyond where solar and


electrolysis can reach and taking methane originated from waste out of the atmosphere and capturing all the carbon associated with the feedstock.”


UK-based Organics operates globally and is focused on renewable energy, ammonia recovery and anaerobic digestion. Commercial director Keith Richardson explained how the company’s patented system recovers ammonia from high- strength wastewater and turns it into a range of saleable ammonia products, along with hydrogen.


Organics already has a well-established thermal ammonia stripper which is used to remove ammonia from, for example, watering liquors and landfill leachates. The recovered ammonia can be used as a fertiliser, a raw material for industrial processes or as a feedstock for ammonia-cracking processes that could generate green hydrogen.


Global update


In addition to the focus on hydrogen, the webinar also included updates on global water stories, including the rollout of wastewater- based epidemiology and progress on diversity and inclusion in the water sector.


Water Action Platform participants were also invited to take part in a Digital Twin Tour from Idrica, a Spanish-headquartered company specialising in services and solutions for global water utilities. The free event, which takes place on Wednesday 9 June, will be moderated by Piers Clark and features a keynote address by Idrica chief executive Jaime Barba.


The demonstration will show how a digital twin - a virtual model that replicates real system behaviour and allows it to simulate its response under any condition - works.


Innovation successes highlighted at water sector briefing


An innovation accelerator hub to drive transformation within the water sector can be a game-changer, a British Water industry briefing heard.


Heidi Mottram, chief executive, Northumbrian Water, outlined plans for the UK Water Sector Innovation Centre of Excellence at the trade association’s Insight Briefing, held on 21 May 2021, which focused on innovation.


The virtual hub, one of 11 winning entries set to receive funding from the first round of Ofwat’s Innovation in Water Challenge (IWC), is a partnership between several water companies, including Northumbrian Water, and will promote collaboration in and beyond the water sector.


Mottram told attendees, who included suppliers and utilities: “There is huge talent in the water sector, both in companies and the supply chain. I feel very confident that together, working in partnership, we can help improve performance for customers, our community and the environment.”


Stressing the importance of supply chain input to the development of the Centre of Excellence, she said: “We’re interested in ideas on how to make the platform work, so we can build it in a way that works for everyone - the supply chain is critical. We want this to be an absolute game changer in terms of culture.”


Mottram also discussed Northumbrian Water’s open innovation policy, the achievements of its unique innovation festival and its approach to supplier engagement.


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She said: “The open and collaborative approach we adopt for innovation is really critical to the way we work with our framework partners in our day-to- day working. I’m really proud of how we’ve engaged with them in finding efficient options for delivery of capital projects, by building strong collaborative partnerships, sharing skills and delivering smarter solutions.”


The briefing also heard from John Russell, senior director of strategy and planning, Ofwat, who gave further updates on the regulator’s £200 million innovation fund, highlighting first-round winners of the IWC, and outlining the Water Breakthrough Challenge, which closed to entries on 3 June 2021. Both challenges are being run by Nesta Challenges, with Arup and Isle Utilities also delivery partners.


Russell said the innovation fund was not only about new technology but also non- technological innovations, such as the use of systems, processes, people and commercial arrangements.


Going on to speak about the wider aims of the fund, he said: “We want to see things that are as much about the architecture of innovation. How do you culturally encourage innovation within the sector?


“Another theme is scalability and deployability. We are as much interested in ideas about how you take innovation that may have already been tested and actually role it out at scale


Heidi Mottram& John Russell (inset)


across the sector.”


Russell added that for future competition rounds, Ofwat would be looking at how it can provide stronger incentives for supply chain companies to pitch their ideas.


“We are thinking hard about how we can provide more of an opportunity for third party innovators to interact with companies on specific challenges,” he said,


Discussions during the briefing also covered Ofwat’s Price Review 2024 (PR24), funding for green investment and utilities’ water efficiency programmes.


British Water’s Insight Briefings were launched to give water sector companies of all sizes the opportunity to hear updates, share views and ask questions about key issues affecting the industry. Chaired by British Water chief executive Lila Thompson, the video meetings take place monthly, are free to attend and open to members and non-members.


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