Proceedings

Northumbrian Water’s Environment Strategy
• Our Howdon Journey so far
• NWL AAD Returned liquors – how big is the prize?
• Northumbrian Water’s Innovation
• OFWAT Innovation Fund Research Project
• Organics Process Overview
• Results to Date
• Conclusions

• Northumbrian Water’s has two AAD plants, treating >70,000tds sludge per year

• We already produce and reuse
• 165GWh biogas. We plan to increase this to 175GWh by 2035.
• 96,000tonnes of digestate which is used as a fertiliser.
• 8MWth waste heat available (Bran Sands and Howdon)
• As a by-product from the digestate we produce 2,500,000m3
returned liquors, which is treated back through main treatment works.
• Main component, suspended solids, COD and 3,000mg/l Ammonia•

The prize:

• Opportunity to recover 4,400 tonnes of high strength ammonia.
• Energy savings for main STW (40% reduction in aeration costs at Bran Sands)

• Ability to meet future Total N implications
• Carbon emission saving from for main STW (gaseous emissions reduction (NOx))