05/08/10
A water company announces the first car to run entirely on gas produced from human waste.
First reactions to today's news of the Bio-Bug, the VW adapted to use biogas from treatment of sewage, have ranged from disbelief to amusement. Both are understandable, but neither is appropriate.
In recent years, water companies have developed more and better ways of managing sewage, not as waste but as a valuable source of energy, fertiliser and soil improvers.
The result has been a series of innovations that puts the water industry among the leaders in recycling and renewable energy generation.
The process used is anaerobic digestion (AD) in which micro-organisms are used to break down biodegradeable material and create methane. In addition to the production of increasing amounts of renewable energy, the benefits of AD include:
• production of biosolids (a sustainable source of fertiliser for use in arable farming);
• lower carbon footprint;
• reduced costs as smaller volumes of sewage sludge have to be removed from the treatment site.
In 2008-09 the UK water industry generated 742 Gwh of energy from renewable sources. This was 40% higher than the previous year and more than 8.5% of the industry's considerable total energy needs.
Today, bug life raised its profile as the excellent Bio-Bug drove on to news bulletins and front pages. No doubt the micro-bugs who play a less starring role behind the scenes will be celebrating anyway.
Water UK Sustainability Indicators 2008-09
For more information please contact:
Water UK Communication
20 7344 1804 (out of hours 07833 450544)
