Scottish Water has launched an initiative to produce hydrogen and oxygen from our waste water, continuing to lead the way in energy recovery.

The energy firm launched the initiative at the conclusion of British Science Week, revealing the latest cutting-edge technology they are investigating to help achieve net zero targets by 2040.

The technology involves using an electrolyser on waste water treatment works to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity.

Hydrogen is cleaner and kinder to the environment than natural gas and could be used to power our sites. Tests are also ongoing to use it to fuel our hydrogen vehicles.

Scottish Water use oxygen in some of their waste water treatment processes, which requires a lot of energy to create. The oxygen produced could be used to reduce our energy consumption and carbon emissions.

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Scottish Water Horizons and our Research & Innovation teams have worked with Strathclyde University MSc student Hayley Irving to identify if we could use this technology with waste water. The results showed hydrogen production from waste water might now be possible and could help us reduce our carbon emissions.

Zoe Frogbook, Strategic Programme Manager in Research & Innovation at Scottish Water, said: "The benefits of this technology are far-reaching.

"It could contribute to one of the many layers of innovative technology required to reach net zero target emissions by 2040.

"Along with Horizons, Research and Innovation is continuously look for new and emerging technology that we could use on our sites."

John Sammon, Business Development Team Leader with Scottish Water Horizons, added: "We are now commissioning a more detailed feasibility study which will allow us to establish the economics and carbon benefits of installing the equipment and to decide if it’s technically and commercially viable."

If the study proves viable, it could see a pilot project using the new technology at one of our sites in the near future.

(MH/JG)