SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS
WASTE WATER HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM DELIVERS LOW-CARBON ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOT SHOWER WATER
In a project pioneered by Perth and Kinross Council, a former 1980s leisure facility has been replaced by a £36 million facility located in the centre of Blairgowrie, with state-of-the-art amenities including a 25m swimming pool, sports halls, fitness suite, dance studio and a PE classroom. The new purpose-built centre includes a
moveable floor which allows the pool to be divided into two sections with different depths. It was designed by Holmes Miller, specialists in carbon-neutral developments, and delivered by BAM Construction. Constructed from cross-laminated timber and
glulam, the building has strong thermal and acoustic insulation, ensuring a comfortable indoor climate. Here, energy consumption is expected to be reduced by 80% compared to a typical leisure centre due to a range of innovative energy-saving technologies incorporated throughout. A key contributor to these savings is the
installation of Showersave’s Waste Water Heat Recovery System (WWHRS). This system captures heat from shower waste water, and preheats the incoming cold feed that refills the system.
Blairgowrie opted to install 18 Showersave Blue QB1-21 waste water heat recovery systems across the site, with each unit feeding two showers with sustainably heated water. With heat transfer through the copper pipe to warm the incoming cold mains water, the result is a 42% reduction in hot water demand, helping to save energy and make showering more sustainable. James Martin, account manager
at Showersave, commented: “The inclusion of Showersave in the Blairgowrie Community Recreation Centre project has been the perfect solution for delivering low-carbon, energy-efficient hot shower water provision. In a commercial setting, Showersave enables significant energy and cost savings.” Es Tresidder, energy consultant and Passivhaus
designer at John Gilbert Architects, added: “The 18 Showersave QB1-21 systems installed have been vital in helping achieve such a radical reduction in energy consumption, while
NEW MOTOR SERIES ENABLES BUSINESS OWNERS TO ADVANCE DECARBONISATION GOALS
ABB’s next-generation series of permanent magnet (PM) motors with water-jacket cooling is designed to support growing cross-industry demand for compact, energy- efficient, and low-noise solutions. These are designed for operation with the company’s frequency converter drives, enabling optimised system configurations and flexible
integration into modern electrification architectures. According to the company, the new motor series enables companies to advance their decarbonisation goals while optimising design and operational performance. In particular, the marine industry stands to benefit as it is in the midst of a transformation driven by the global shift towards electrification, hybridisation, and the adoption of alternative fuels. Permanent magnet motors are increasingly recognised as a core technology for next generation vessels, enabling higher efficiency, reduced noise, and improved manoeuvrability – especially for tugboats, offshore support vessels, ferries and hybrid ships. The motor series is also available for a number of other industrial variable-
speed drive applications, including both geared and direct-drive configurations. It is currently offered in frame sizes 500 and 710, with power ratings up to 5 MW, although larger frame sizes are feasible and can be supported. ABB’s new PM motor is said to deliver premium efficiency up to 98%, outstanding torque density, and significantly reduced losses across the full operating range. This efficiency translates directly into lower energy
consumption, reduced fuel or battery use, and significantly avoided CO2 emissions over the equipment’s lifecycle. The motor’s innovative water-jacket cooling system, combined with an
optimised mechanical structure, provides exceptional thermal performance without requiring external fan units or top coolers, the company explains.
ABB
www.abb.com/global/en
ensuring that users always enjoy hot showers. This addition has ensured the Blairgowrie project achieves the rigorous standards required for Passivhaus certification.”
Showersave T: 028 9334 4488
www.showersave.com
ELECTROLYSER PRODUCES GREEN HYDROGEN FROM UNTREATED SEAWATER
Latent Drive has successfully demonstrated its SeaStack electrolyser, producing green hydrogen directly from untreated seawater under portside conditions for the first time. The demonstration took place at Manor Marine’s shipyard based
at Portland Harbour, as part of the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) Demonstration Programme, led by Connected Places Catapult. Installed in a purpose-built trailer system, the SeaStack electrolyser produced hydrogen directly from seawater before safely venting it. Latent Drive also achieved a world first in producing hydrogen from wastewaters – successfully processing both sewage treatment works effluent and concentrated brine. SeaStack is designed to be the world’s first commercial
direct seawater-to-hydrogen electrolyser. Unlike conventional electrolysers that require specially purified freshwater before they can operate, SeaStack works directly with wastewater or seawater. By eliminating the dependency on scarce freshwater supplies, the technology reduces the cost of green hydrogen, while also being uniquely suited for offshore and coastal deployments. Extending this to a range of wastewaters also opens up new markets for SeaStack in water treatment, bio-remediation and industrial locations. Joseph Ely, technical director at Latent Drive, said: “The green
hydrogen market is projected to be worth over $640 billion by 2030. SeaStack is designed to address the barriers that have so far held the market back – and our successful demonstration, supported and funded by the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative, shows it is primed to do exactly that.”
Latent Drive
latentdrive.co.uk
20 ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2026
www.essmag.co.uk
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