The sludge digestion centre at the plant currently produces biogas which is used in a combined heat and power plant to generate electricity. However, UU now wants to introduce a process that cleans the biogas to produce green gas which can be injected directly into the grid.
The scheme should be up and running, with gas going into supply, this spring.
UU will lay a new gas pipe which will connect into an existing gas network near Trafford Retail Park.
Meanwhile, at the treatment works itself, a cleaning plant is being built to make sure the biogas is pure enough to be injected into the gas grid.
UU sludge business manager Tom Lissett explained: “We’re always looking at ways to maximise the amount of value we can get from sewage sludge.
“It might have been considered a waste stream at one time, but now we call sludge ‘black gold’. Already we use our biogas in engines to generate renewable heat and electricity from Davyhulme – enough to power the entire works.
“As we increase the efficiency of the sewage and sludge treatment process we are able to generate more biogas and as a result we’ll be able to put that into the gas grid for the very first time.”
“Everyone will benefit from our more flexible approach to utilising biogas for electricity generation and supplying green gas to the grid,” he added. “This maximises the benefits we can obtain from the biogas we produce which will help us protect our customers from higher bills in future.”
Work to lay the new gas main connection will start on 8 February and take three weeks to complete.