Anglian Water has secured funding for both projects it submitted to Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge.
On 30 September, it announced that £7.5mn has been awarded to its Safe Smart Systems project, set to use artificial intelligence and mathematical optimisation to improve long-term operational resilience in the face of climate change and rapid population growth, and £3.5mn to its Triple Carbon Reduction project, which features hydrogen.
The purpose of the Water Breakthrough Challenge has been to support Ofwat’s efforts in creating an innovative, collaborative water sector that meets the needs of customers, society and the environment in future through funding initiatives that water companies would otherwise be unable to invest in or explore.
The Triple Carbon Reduction solution is set to use novel technologies to target a step change reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and electricity use in water treatment and provide a new renewable energy source through green hydrogen production. It will lead to “triple carbon” synergy and contribute to achieving net zero by 2030. The project will see Anglian Water team up with Oxymen, Element Energy, Jacobs, Cranfield University, the University of East Anglia, Brunel University, Severn Trent Water, Scottish Water, Northern Ireland Water and United Utilities.
Amanda Lake, Water Process Lead at Jacobs Europe, said: “We’re excited to couple an innovative pure MaBR treatment solution with green hydrogen production. We know the outcomes could be significant for the water sector – lower nitrous oxide process emissions, a role in the green hydrogen economy, valuable resource recovery and application of best practice life cycle assessment methods. What a valuable chance to work together to open the door to the lower carbon, circular economy water sector we urgently require.”
