Scottish Water Horizons Launches UK's First Waste Water Hydropower Project at Hamilton

Scottish Water Horizons has initiated the UK's first mid-process waste water hydropower project at Hamilton Waste Water Treatment Works (WwTW) in South Lanarkshire. This innovative project aims to generate renewable energy from waste water flows, contributing to Scottish Water's goal of achieving 'Beyond Net Zero' by 2040.

The installation includes a Crossflow turbine capable of generating 48kW of electricity, reducing reliance on grid power and lowering carbon emissions. The hydropower system captures energy from waste water after treatment, operating efficiently under variable flow conditions.

Construction began in April 2023, with the system connected to the grid in November 2023. The project is expected to produce 420,000 kWh of renewable energy annually, offsetting about 14% of the site's energy demand and saving approximately 64 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. This model may be replicated across other Scottish Water facilities.