Sludge could be one answer to the UK’s energy crisis according to the UK’s leading resource management company, Veolia.

Advances in Anaerobic Digestion and CHP are key to meeting electricity demand, as pressure on the National Grid mounts

More human waste should be being turned into energy for the National Grid, as an unprecedented “energy gap” looms in a decade’s time. Advances in Anaerobic Digestion and CHP are key to meeting electricity demand, as pressure on the National Grid mounts , Veolia says.

Now more advanced technologies mean that biogas from all the available sewage could now deliver an estimated 1,697GWh - enough electricity to power over half a million homes.

 We Over 11 billion litres of human sewage is produced in the UK every day -however, not all of this is being harnessed at the many Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facilities up and down the country, meaning a lot is currently going to waste. On average 66% of sewage is currently being AD treated but with recent developments in technology, enabling the extraction of even more gas from sewage, the benefits can now fully realised.

John Abraham, Chief Operating Officer – Water at Veolia UK, commented:

“Investment in new facilities will boost our renewable infrastructure and create jobs while reducing our carbon footprint. We need to stop relying on fossil fuels as human sewage could make a significant contribution to meeting our renewable energy targets, while keeping the lights on and taking pressure from the National Grid.”