HyValue

July 23, 2024

breakthrough-2 water-breakthrough-challenge winners

Key information:

Led by: Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water

Partners:  Costain, University of South Wales

Competition: Breakthrough 2 Transform

Funding awarded: £267,954

Every day 3,920 tonnes of organic material are taken away by sewers in England and Wales for treatment – equivalent to the weight of 329 double decker buses. One method of treating sewage is via anaerobic digestion, this means using oxygen to break down organic contaminants and other pollutants. One of the by-products of this process is biogas – a naturally occurring mix of gases including methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s project, HyValue, sought to investigate the practicalities of creating biohydrogen directly from biogas produced by sewage treatment. The project hoped that the biohydrogen created could ultimately be equivalent to that needed to fuel 100 public buses, not only reducing the associated carbon emissions from diesel exhaust, but also reducing nitrous oxide emissions and particulate emissions in the region.

Where some forms of hydrogen production aren’t sustainable, due to reliance on burning fossil fuels and significant carbon dioxide emissions, this approach is much more environmentally-friendly. Any CO2 produced in the process can be captured and used to make food-grade CO2 for fizzy drinks – ensuring no waste. The project exemplifies the idea of making use of waste, moving towards upcycling and circularity so that the water sector can make the best possible use of all resources.

During the first phase, feasibility has been confirmed and a topline business case has been developed. The project has proved that the process has environmental and financial benefits, and the team is now embarking on the next phase to develop a detailed design, confirm prices and lead times, and engage with potential external users for the hydrogen produced.

The water sector has a real opportunity to contribute to the UK government’s higher level hydrogen strategy of 10 gigawatts of capacity by 2030. That, paired with the environmental benefits, is incredibly compelling when looking at cities that are struggling to achieve air quality targets with the burning of other vehicle fuels and heavy industry processes that use fossil fuels. A transition to hydrogen, that can burn much more cleanly or even for use in fuel cells where the emissions are effectively water vapor, presents an incredible opportunity for air quality.

Andrew Dixon, Head of Energy Efficiency, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water