Scottish Water has gone out to tender with a major contract to build a new major bioresource processing facility to process circa 85,000 tonnes dry solids (tds) Per Annum at a location in the central belt of Scotland worth up to an estimated £415 million.

The water company is now inviting interested suppliers to submit Expressions of Interest for the first phase of the project - Scottish Water is looking to appoint contractors with experience of delivering and commissioning AAD plants.
The new asset, which will utilise thermal hydrolysis Advanced Anaerobic Digestion (AAD) technology, will produce a class A bioresource product suitable for recycling to agricultural land, maximise energy recovery and reduce the energy usage, carbon footprint and operating costs of bioresource treatment.
Scottish Water is currently working on the design for the project with framework consultants and engaging with the AAD technology provider Cambi to assist in the design.
The planned construction site start date is April 2027 – the estimated value is in the range of £265 million to £415 million (based on 2024 prices). Determining the most cost-effective design is a key aspect of the project.
At present, there are numerous sludge treatment centres (STCs) across Scotland which deploy a range of technologies including Advanced Anaerobic Digestion (AAD), Anaerobic Digestion (AD), liming, thermal drying and dewatering.
Scottish Water has identified a need to rationalise the number of existing STCs across the country and construct strategically located energy centres employing thermal hydrolysis AAD Cambi technology.
With the return of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) sites back to Scottish Water ownership over the next decade, Scottish Water is seeking to create a bioresource treatment asset base that will produce a Class A
bioresource product suitable for recycling to agricultural land, maximise energy recovery and reduce the energy usage, carbon footprint and operating costs of bioresource treatment.
The project covers the energy centre proposed for the West Central region, treating bioresource from Greater Glasgow and Central Scotland with a projected average throughput to 2040 of 85,000tDS/yr.
Daldowie has been selected as the preferred location for the proposed energy centre. The existing PFI asset was designed in the late 1990s and is the current strategic STC for Greater Glasgow. The STC currently uses thermal drying technology and receives feedstock from the region's largest Waste Water Treatment Works (WwTWs) via the Greater Glasgow Sludge Main (GGSM) and road imports.
Scottish Water will consider consortium, Joint Venture and other arrangements, in relation to this opportunity.
Scottish Water intends to implement a phased approach for Contractor engagement for this project, incorporating the following phases: -
- Phase 1 - Early Contractor Involvement
- Phase 2 - Design, Build and Commission
The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)/ Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) covers Phase 1 and is to undertake Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) activities to progress the design of the proposed energy centre to Gate 80 (design sufficiently progressed to allow development of target cost), considering buildability, commissioning, operation and maintenance aspects of the proposals.
Scottish Water is aiming to appoint contractor(s) to assist in the ECI phase, during which the contractor(s) will be expected to collaborate with each other as well as the Design Consultant, the designated technology provider Cambi and Scottish Water to develop an agreed design for the project.
Once the Gate 70/ 80 design deliverables are finalised, a design freeze will take place, following which the ECI contractor(s) may be asked to provide a price and tender submission for Phase 2 Design & Build.
Estimated contract term is 96 months with further potential extension options available.
This opportunity can be accessed through this link https://atamis-scottishwater.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_PublicLandingPage?SearchType=Projects
Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 18 November 2024 – click here to access the tender documentation.
HUBER Technology UK & Ireland are inviting people to register for their March webinar where they will be providing information about HUBER water intake screens for municipal and industrial applications.

Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.