Water firm branches out with food waste-to-energy plant

A Welsh water firm has acquired a food waste recycling plant in Cardiff. Welsh Water Infrastructure, a part of the not-for-profit Glas Cymru group, hopes to use the anaerobic digestion […]

A Welsh water firm has acquired a food waste recycling plant in Cardiff.

Welsh Water Infrastructure, a part of the not-for-profit Glas Cymru group, hopes to use the anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting plant as part of its plans to further develop its clean energy business.

The facility is located within the company’s Cardiff Wastewater Treatment Works in Tremorfa – it means around 50% of the energy used at the site can now be generated through sustainable, renewable generation.

The methane produced when food decomposes will be used to make clean electricity and heat rather than allowing it to escape to the atmosphere from landfill sites.

Welsh Water plans to increase the amount of renewable energy it generates to 30% by 2020 to help reduce its £41 million annual costs and keep bills lower for customers.

Welsh Water Infrastructure Managing Director, Sonia McCorquodale, said: “Welsh Water is one of Wales’ largest energy users as the company uses a lot of energy to pump and treat water and wastewater.

“This latest investment will help the Glas Cymru Group to generate more renewable energy as we play our part in helping to manage the effects of climate change by becoming energy neutral by 2050.”

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