Anglian Water among international winners of Lighthouse water awards
9 Nov 2021
UK water utility Anglian Water has joined the likes of Google and Carlsberg among the winners of the 2021 Lighthouse Awards for organisations that pioneer sustainable solutions to the world water crisis.
Anglian Water partnered with Oasthouse Ventures business developers to use the warm water by-product of the water recycling process to heat two of the UK’s largest greenhouses, producing 12% of the country’s tomatoes.
Extracting heat from final effluent discharged from water recycling centres, the glasshouses emit 75% less carbon in heating and cooling in comparison to using traditional fossil fuels.
“The reuse of waste heat from the water recycling process to support sustainable agriculture is an innovative and renewable low carbon alternative to the traditional gas-fired boilers and a great example of the circular economy in action. There is huge potential to replicate what has been achieved here in other areas of the UK,” said the judges.
Launched by the Brave Blue World Foundation last year 2020, following the release of its documentary Brave Blue World, the competition looks for new ways of using technology, finance or partnerships, to reduce their impact in water-stressed regions or build resilience in their local water systems.
Brave Blue World Foundation founder Paul O’Callaghan said:
“The achievements of our 2021 recipents show us what is possible when bold ambitions are supported and enabled. We are proud to celebrate the stories of these visionaries who are showing us the way to a sustainable water future.”
The selection process, carried out by technology market intelligence company BlueTech Research, is split into project themes including blue-green infrastructure, water reuse, partnerships and communication, nature-based solutions, regeneration, water catchment and circular economy.
The full list of recipients of the Lighthouse Awards 2021 include:
- Anheuser-Busch InBev - Amunas: using heritage to protect water in Peru
- Anglian Water - low-carbon sustainable agriculture
- Carlsberg - the world’s most water-efficient brewery
- CEPT Rayapuramand DuPont Water Solutions - zero liquid discharge at Tirupur textile factory, India
- Google - seawater cooling system, Hamina Data Centre, Finland
Honourable mentions went to Totem Games for its water 2050 video game and Isla Urbana’s project for rainwater harvesting in Mexico City’s informal settlements.
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