Wind power upgrade for London sewage plant

London -- Thames Water is to install a wind turbine as part of a major upgrade to its Crossness Sewage Treatment Works (STW) -- one of the largest STWs in Europe. The move at the south east London works is part of £400-million investment programme in the capital’s major sewage works.

According to Thames Water, the turbine would help to generate up to half of the total energy needs for the Crossness STW and reduce its carbon footprint. The plant, which serves the needs of two million people, requires major investment to enable it to cope with climate change, the company said.

“Crossness already generates much of its own electricity from renewable

energy­ by burning sludge,” said Victor Freeney, Thames Water’s senior project manager. “With the addition of a wind turbine, we should be able to provide 50% of the plant’s total needs from green energy, which will help us to reduce our carbon footprint.”

Investment will also be made in increasing the plant’s capacity, improving the environment of the Thames, as well as plans to install equipment to minimise odours from the site.

Currently during times of very heavy rainfall, Crossness, on the south bank of the Thames in Bexley, cannot accommodate the increase in sewage and rainwater received, explained Thames Water. This, it said, results in diluted effluent overflowing into the River Thames.

“We’re committed to a massive programme of investment across all our London sewage treatment works, not only to cope with the demands of population growth and climate change, but to ensure that we can improve the environmental quality of the River Thames,” said Freeney.