United Utilities is using both wind and solar power at its Fleetwood sewage works in Lancashire - part of the Warrington-based water group’s multi-million pound strategy to generate 35% of its own electricity.
The water company has fitted a 500kW wind turbine and a 1,300kW solar roof array to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 900 average UK homes every year.
The new turbine is 76m high (228ft) - almost half the size of Blackpool Tower which stands at 518ft - and has a 52m rotor. The Fleetwood plant is the first to mix both wind and solar power.
Gregor Hogarth, United Utilities’ energy manager, said:
“For a business like us, solar and wind energy just makes sense. Our aim over the next five years is to create solar and wind systems across a number of our sites in the North West. These will help us run parts of our operation using clean renewable electricity.”
He added: “We’re committed to increasing efficiency and reducing the cost of energy to run our sites. This will reduce the effect of rising energy costs on us and our customers’ bills and help to cut pollution and protect the environment.”
UK water companies are invited to join an upcoming webinar which will explore how the sector can take indirect potable reuse (IPR) from concept to full-scale operational reality.
James Sumsion, CEO of predictive water intelligence specialists Kohtari, says the water sector needs to take a giant leap forward, so that it can anticipate and act upon water quality issues - rather than merely react.
Ray Moulds, Sales Director at Flood Control International, takes a look at how automated sliding floodgates are supporting secondary containment at water and sewerage company sites.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.