Plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the water industry over the next decade took a significant step forward, two international consultancies – Ricardo and Mott MacDonald – will set out how it can be achieved
The water industry has already taken some significant steps to reduce gross operational emissions, cutting them by 43% since 2011 despite a growing population and the impacts of climate change.
Companies have increased their own renewable electricity generation by over 40% in that time and have also changed the way they buy power. There has been a significant increase in the purchasing of green electricity to over 2000 GWh – enough to power all the households in the UK for three days.
The water sector’s lead on committing to a carbon zero future by 2030 forms part of the industry’s Public Interest Commitment (PIC) announced last year, with the carbon zero goal being one of five stretching social and environmental ambitions.
The net-zero carbon pledge is sponsored by Peter Simpson, Anglian Water; Heidi Mottram CBE, Northumbrian Water; and Liz Barber, Yorkshire Water.
At a major water industry event hosted by Water UK in London, called ‘Delivering a Net Zero Water Sector’, the consultants present analysis of the work the industry has carried out on carbon reduction so far and set out options for companies to consider as they develop their future plans.
Future plans include:
- Reducing emissions caused by wastewater treatment processes – cutting the amount of methane and other gases being released from wastewater treatment works
- Increased energy efficiency – putting in place cutting-edge systems to manage energy
- Increasing self-generated renewables – such as solar power and anaerobic digestion
- Purchasing green electricity – low carbon sources such as wind power and biomass
- Providing biogas to the energy grid – so other industries have access to low carbon gas
- Rolling-out electric and alternative fuel vehicles – hydrogen and vegetable oil-powered
- Moving to electric-powered construction equipment – such as diggers
In addition to the net-zero carbon pledge, water companies have also agreed to work together towards four other challenging goals in the PIC:
- Triple the rate of leakage reduction across the sector by 2030
- Make bills affordable as a minimum for all households with water and sewerage bills more than 5% of their disposable income by 2030 and develop a strategy to end water poverty
- Prevent the equivalent of 4 billion plastic bottles ending up as waste by 2030
- Be the first sector to achieve 100% commitment to the Social Mobility Pledge
Commitment to always act in the public interest
Peter Simpson, chief executive of Anglian Water, said: “Climate change is not just an environmental issue – it’s the defining societal and economic challenge of our time. The issue is a genuine emergency, we have no time to waste. Achieving net-zero is part of our industry’s wider commitment to always act in the public interest.”
Heidi Mottram CBE, chief executive of Northumbrian Water, said: “As we approach the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP26 – in Glasgow later this year, the urgency and necessity of taking action has only increased. Britain has sought to be a leader in tackling the climate crisis, which gives all of us in business and industry the potential and opportunity to demonstrate leadership.”
