Welsh Water to deliver net zero carbon emissions by 2040
4 June 2021
As one of the largest energy users in Wales, Welsh Water is uniquely positioned to tackle the climate emergency head on as part of Welsh Government’s ‘Team Wales’ race to zero emissions. Our CEO Peter Perry explains why it matters, and how we plan to get there.
Today, alongside our annual results for 2020-21, we announce our plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. As one of Wales’ largest energy users with an annual energy bill of £46 million, we believe this commitment will play a key role in combating the climate change emergency declared by Welsh Government and its goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
We’ve already started to see the effects of climate change within our sector and are addressing the longer term implications of this. In Wales we are experiencing more severe events such as the drought of 2018 and Storm Dennis in 2020, highlighting more extreme variations in our climate. These changes are having a significant impact on our water and waste water infrastructure and therefore, we want to ensure we are doing everything we can to minimise our own emissions.
By the very nature of our business, we’re part of what has always been an energy intensive industry to deliver essential services and we face a significant challenge in decarbonising. We are taking this matter very seriously working with stakeholders, planning with experts, and have listened to our customers to develop our roadmap to net zero by 2040 and beyond.
Whilst there is much more to do, we can also be proud of our progress so far. We’ve made great strides towards net zero emissions since 2010, generating 23% of our own energy needs through wind, hydro, solar and advance anaerobic digestion (AAD) with the rest procured from 100% renewable energy resources. By investing a further £21 million over the next four years, we will be 35% energy self-sufficient by 2025. We also commit to becoming 100% energy self-sufficient - or energy neutral - by 2050.
As well as committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2040, we aim to reduce our total carbon emissions by 90% by 2030. To transform water and wastewater services, we have set aside a record budget of £68 million for research and innovation over the next five years. A large part of this will help us identify and adopt in newer low carbon technologies. Between now and 2040 we will innovate how we harness nature through our biodiversity plan, peatland restoration, wetland treatment and catchment management.
Planning for the long term is critical for a business that delivers services essential for life. These aren’t simply targets in relation to infrastructure or operational emissions; it’s about changing the way we think, plan and deliver. Therefore, the Board has formed a new committee, the Environmental, Social & Governance committee to provide detailed oversight of the strategy we have developed.
We will also increase the use of renewables to become more energy self-sufficient. Building on the success of our flagship £36 million energy park in Wrexham, North Wales, we have recently invested £50 million into Cog Moors Wastewater Treatment Works in the Vale of Glamorgan. This will generate clean, green energy from sewage through its state-of-the- art Advanced Anaerobic Digestion (AAD) facility creating enough energy to power the works which will make it an energy neutral site.
We’re a socially responsible company with a clear purpose and vision to earn the trust of our customers every day. Climate change poses an existential threat to future generations; this is about taking responsibility for managing the biggest challenge of our time, focusing on the long-term and ensuring we help protect our customers, communities and the wider environment while leaving a fairer future for generations to come.