The areas that this Big Question covers include: Have a look at the route map – this is a plan as to how we will answer our Big Question through research. The route map has a number of key elements. At the top is our Big Question and then the Outcomes we need to achieve from the research programme -if we can achieve all these Outcomes we can answer the Big Question. You can also see the Key Benefits that will come from achieving the desired Outcomes.
Click on the Research Outcomes below to see the Projects that have been completed or are underway.
Scroll down further to see Case Studies explaining the impact of our research.
RESEARCH Outcomes
Energy & transport: decarbonisation through avoidance, efficiency and alternatives to fossil fuels View key benefits and filter projects by this outcome key benefits An evidence base to support system-wide decisions on water and wastewater Informing the most effective deployment of emerging technologies & methods |
Process emissions: minimised emissions through prevention, optimisation or capture View key benefits and filter projects by this outcome key benefits An ability to better select and control treatment processes in order to limit emissions More accurate measurement or estimation of emissions from specific processes |
Land use and carbon capture: carbon sequestration potential maximised View key benefits and filter projects by this outcome key benefits Ability to maximise benefits of land-based measures Maximising carbon storage, and drawdown potential of biosolids Understanding sequestration rates of land cover; ability to alter land use based on carbon sequestration |
Investment, procurement: minimised emissions in materials, consumables, products & services; credible offsets View key benefits and filter projects by this outcome key benefits Ability to make procurement and investment choices based on wholelife carbon Data on embodied carbon leading to consistent measurement, reporting & an industry baseline Knowledge of relative merits of offsetting options |
Customers: reduced emissions related to customer behaviour View key benefits and filter projects by this outcome key benefits Ability to influence the carbon footprint of customers’ behaviour in relation to water and wastewater use Better use of the drivers of environmentally-friendly consumption |
Cross-cutting: low carbon, sustainable water cycle management View key benefits and filter projects by this outcome key benefits Consistent reporting More influence over the wider water cycle e.g. urban planning Quantified wholelife carbon impacts of regulation and investment choices; evidence for more environmentally optimal regulation |
| Integrating and producing hydrogen. Project Status - Project Completed Category - Carbon
The UK’s latest hydrogen strategy, published in August 2021, states that hydrogen is a new low carbon solution that is critical for the UK’s transition to net zero. There are a range of solutions to create hydrogen but it is likely that electrolysis of water will feature prominently in this. Research is required to establish the impact on water resources and to identify alternatives to electrolysis of water relevant to the water sector.
In light of the governments ambition to delivery 5GW of production to meet our net zero commitments, the water industry needs to understand and develop its position in the supply chain. There is significant challenge in that there is little or no hydrogen production in the UK at present and therefore the implications on infrastructure and supply chain are currently unknown. This may well be an opportunity for the water sector but will need careful management to maintain water supply to customers. |
Projects coming soon.
Projects coming soon.
| BQ10 - Supporting wholelife carbon reduction: practices, evidence base and data. Project Status - Project Commenced Category - Overall Impacts
There is growing scrutiny of our embodied / scope 3 emissions: the quantum, our management of them. Inclusion in upcoming business plans and for England and Wales, in annual reporting. A recent UKWIR project (ref: 22/CL/01/32 Calculating wholelife/ totex carbon) provided an appraisal of best / current practice, available tools, and guidance on their systematic use. This built on UKWIR’s 2012 project (ref: 12/CL/01/15 A framework for accounting for embodied carbon in water industry assets) which included production of a meta-database of sources of carbon emission factors available from Government, academia, institutions and trade associations, water companies and suppliers. We now need to update the 2012 work on construction carbon emission factors and pursue the areas for further research identified in the 2022 project. (ref: 12/CL/01/15 A framework for accounting for embodied carbon in water industry assets). |
| Over the last 15 years the water sector has been developing tools for different aspects of its carbon footprint. Through UKWIR the Carbon Accounting Workbook provides a consistent approach for annual operational emissions. Also focused on operational emissions, the Water UK Net Zero routemap programme will culminate in the provision tools for estimating carbon reductions of different options over a given period of time, and the cost per tonne of CO2 avoided.
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Projects coming soon.
| Carbon accounting workbook update v15. Project Status - Project Completed
To avoid inconsistent greenhouse gas emissions reporting we need a common method and accounting system. This is achieved through the carbon accounting workbook (CAW). The CAW requires annual updating - at the very least to incorporate revised emissions factors issued by BEIS. Previous updates have also included broadening the scope of items that are quantified, and improving functionality. |
RESEARCH IMPACT - CASE STUDIES |