United Utilities is embarking on a major initiative for the optimisation of its S2E biogas to energy production facilities.
The water company wants to understand the capability of the market and if the biogas to energy production line can be optimised - United Utilities is now inviting suppliers to provide information on how they could provide part or all of a range of services in order to help determine its overall approach and any future strategy.
The utility operates a number of digesters which it uses to convert suspended sewage solids into energy in the form of biogas. Sludge from its Waste Water Treatment works is transported to 1 of 18 sites to be processed and converted into biogas and digestate, in order to generate biogas.
United Utilities currently utilises a number of different types of anaerobic digester to process the sludge. The digesters also act as the upstream demarcation point between United Utilities waste water processing operations and its sludge to energy operation.
Typically the biogas which is generated via the breakdown of the sludge in the digester is stored in gas bags from where it is transported, either to gas engines to be converted into heat and electrical energy or is burnt in a boiler to generate heat energy, the majority of which is utilised in heating the digesters. Any surplus gas which cannot be stored is flared.
The asset base within the S2E production facilities are a mixture of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Control and Instrumentation systems, the operation of which are covered by a number of all-encompassing process safety systems. Sludge technologies used include:
- Mesophilic Anaerobic digestion
- Thermophilic Anaerobic digestion
- Enhanced Hydrolysis
- Thermal Hydrolysis
Dependant on the route taken, the downstream assets included in the current energy production and conversion technologies operated on the S2E Business stream include:
- Jenbacher Combined Heat and Power systems
- MAN Combined Heat and Power systems
- Hot water boiler plant
- Steam boiler plant
- Excess gas flare stack
- Gas collection and distribution systems
- Gas storage systems — gas holder and gas bag
- Gas to Grid plant
- Fertiliser.
United Utilities is now seeking to gather information from suppliers with relevant capabilities, including details of core skills, operating models that could deliver optimisation to United Utilities with indicative time-scales for implementation and cost models, together with case studies from any projects completed within a regulated environment in the last 5 years.
Deadline for suppliers to express their interest is 27th May 2016. United Utilities are proposing to hold a Supplier Engagement Day on 30th June 2016, depending on the responses received.
Click here to access further information.
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