Research and development (R&D) plays an important role in the identification of practical, sustainable solutions for the improved management of our water and wastewater assets and activities.
An embedded model approach has been taken which has categorised our R&D programme into three work streams:
1: Collaborative
2: Technology Development
3: Innovative ideas
Collaborative
We work with other UK water companies through UK Water Industry Research Limited (UKWIR) to enable us to undertake common research projects in a co-ordinated manner. This enables water companies to conduct strategic R&D by pooling resources and experience. The shape of this research programme each year is determined by voting; research priority areas are continually identified and updated according to new and emerging drivers and legislation. The UKWIR process is extremely influential and several research reports have delivered significant outputs for UU; for example the Common Framework and Carbon Accounting Methodology.
Technology development
This focuses on all our in-house research, carried out independently or through knowledge transfer partnerships, or even via grants obtained from the Carbon Trust. We currently have three of these partnerships with universities. We fund 50 of these, with the remaining 50% funded by the Government Technology Strategy Board. In addition, we also have two grants from the Carbon Trust to research sustainable improvements into the treatment of wastewater and biosolids The projects focus on reducing our chemical and electricity demand; both a major sources of our greenhouse gas emissions. The case study on Inverted Phase Fermentation is a good example of this.
Innovative ideas
This is where our embedded model approach differs to other water companies. Employees are encouraged to propose R&D ideas in a business case format which are then submitted to an R&D Assessment Panel for funding approval. This encourages motivated and enthusiastic individuals to carry out the R&D and get involved in innovation. The employees ‘own’ the idea themselves and champion it across the business. Both operational and non-operational ideas are encouraged, with approximately 30 projects carried out during 2008/09. A good example of this is Model Predictive Control (MPC). This involves the use of a computer programme alongside intelligent sensors which have the ability to measure incoming loads to an activated sludge plant. By measuring the incoming load, predictions can be made as to when the energy intensive aerators are turned on. Initial trials with this technology have shown energy savings of around 30%.