Yorkshire Water's £34m bio-energy plant at Esholt waste water treatment works has officially opened.

The scheme was designed and delivered by the Morgan Sindall Grontmij joint venture.

The project involves the application of thermal hydrolysis, a method of treating and disposing of waste sludge generated by the waste water treatment process which has seen the installation of a new Thermal Hydrolysis Plant (THP) into the existing sludge treatment facility at the waste water treatment works at Esholt.

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THP exposes the waste sludge to high temperatures and pressure, which subsequently disintegrates the celluar structures of the waste which in turn produces biogas, a natural gas which is then used to directly provide heat and power to the site.

This means that the plant is effectively energy self-sufficient and will reduce Yorkshire Water's carbon footprint by 9,000 tonnes and will deliver significant energy cost savings.

(CD/JP)