MAIN FEATURE
transporting wastewater - creating a tight circular economy of value.
“We are working with Eco Clarity towards the potential nirvana of being able to harvest the FOG from our sewer network and turn it into biodiesel that fuels our vans. That's the end goal,”
added Gudgeon.
Further Eco Clarity hubs are being planned by Yorkshire Water and at sites belonging to United Utilities and Southern Water. The company is also working very closely with the hospitality sector to bring in more FOG resources – watch this space.
Ofwat encourages collaboration with £40m prize pot
Future collaboration is already in the sights of water industry regulator Ofwat, which has announced the fifth Water Breakthrough Challenge and will award up to £40m to highly collaborative innovation projects led by water companies. The regulator for England and Wales is seeking ambitious solutions that tackle climate change, pollution and leakage, as well as ideas to enhance the natural environment, improve services for consumers and increase the resilience of infrastructure.
Water companies are encouraged to partner with companies, charities, academic institutions and civil society organisations from outside the water sector to create new approaches and diverse solutions to challenges facing the industry. Initiatives may feature advanced new technology, revolutionary commercial models, or game-changing business practices.
Previous Ofwat innovation fund collaborations include:
• A partnership between Sheffield University, Synthotech and three water companies to develop Pipebots – small robots that identify faults from within pipes
• The Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative (CaSTCo) - a partnership to promote citizen science and revolutionise the way data about the water environment is collected and shared – it includes 12 water and sewerage companies, the Rivers Trust, Zoological Society of London, charities and universities
• Enabling Water Smart Communities – a partnership between six water companies, engineers, housebuilders, local government and universities that is integrating water management solutions into neighbourhoods to tackle flood risks and manage drought
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Dr Jo Jolly, Ofwat’s director of environment and innovation, said, “Since 2020, the innovation fund has awarded funding to 93 innovative projects that can transform services for customers, communities and the environment. From sewage sludge to leaks, smart water neighbourhoods to supporting vulnerable customers, these partnership-delivered projects are helping to solve the big challenges we face.
“Collaboration is at the core of the innovation fund – among water companies and with organisations outside of our sector. They foster new thinking, new approaches to problems, and result in solutions that may otherwise not have come about.”
Up to £40 million will be awarded through two streams:
• Catalyst – will award partnerships seeking between £150,000 and £2 million. It will close for entries on 6 January 2025.
• Transform– will award partnership seeking between £2 million and £10 million.
For those companies keen to get onboard, first stage entries close on 30 September 2024 and winners of both streams will be announced in May 2025. More information can be found at
waterinnovation.challenges.org/breakthrough5/.
| October 2024 |
www.draintraderltd.com
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