A pioneering project led by Aston University aims to transform sewage sludge into clean water and renewable energy. This initiative has been awarded a portion of a £4.5 million fund by Ofwat, the water services regulation authority in England and Wales.

The collaborative effort between Aston University and engineering consultancy ICMEA-UK focuses on extracting energy from the waste produced during sewage and water treatment. The project plans to convert this waste into hydrogen and methane, which can then be used to power engines or heat homes, offering a sustainable and cost-efficient solution for wastewater management.

Recognised as one of ten winners in Ofwat’s Water Discovery Challenge, the project received £427,000. Dr. Jude Onwudili, based at Aston University’s Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI), is spearheading the team. Together with industrial partners, they will develop a trial rig to transform solid residues from wastewater treatment plants into hydrogen and methane.

The process involves a two-stage method where organic components in the sludge are initially transformed into liquid intermediates. These intermediates are then converted into fuel gases. The project, named REvAR (Renewable Energy via Aqueous-phase Reforming), utilises hot-pressurised water and catalysts under hydrothermal conditions to achieve high conversion efficiency. This innovative technique can treat sewage sludge within minutes, potentially replacing existing methods.

Turning a waste product into clean water and renewable energy

Dr. Onwudili highlighted the significance of the project, noting, “This project is important because millions of tonnes of sewage sludge are generated in the UK each year and the water industry is struggling with how to effectively manage them as waste.

“Instead, they can be converted into valuable feedstocks which are used for producing renewable fuel gases, thereby increasing the availability of feedstocks to meet UK decarbonisation targets through bioenergy. We will be taking a waste product and recovering two important products from it: clean water and renewable energy.”

He further emphasised that the novel technology would help meet the UK’s net-zero obligations by 2050, aligning with Aston University’s mission to contribute positively to the world through education, research, and innovation.

The Water Discovery Challenge seeks to expedite the development and implementation of groundbreaking innovations in the water sector. Over the next six months, winners will also receive non-financial support and opportunities to present their projects to potential partners and investors within the water industry.

This cross-sector competition, part of the Ofwat Innovation Fund, is organised in collaboration with Challenge Works, Arup, and Isle Utilities. It is the first initiative in the water sector to solicit ideas from innovators outside the industry, aiming to address the sector’s most pressing challenges.

Equipping water companies with the tools to face future challenges

Helen Campbell, senior director for sector performance at Ofwat, expressed enthusiasm about the competition, stating, “This competition was about reaching new innovators from outside the sector with different approaches and new ideas, and that’s exactly what the winners are doing.

“The products and ideas recognised in this cross-sector challenge will equip water companies to better face challenges of the future – including achieving sustainability goals and meeting net-zero targets – all while providing the highest-quality product for consumers.”

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