Galafoot Waste Water Treatment Plant in Galashiels now generates more energy than it uses. To mark the renewable milestone a plaque will be put up at the site which sits next to on the bank of the River Tweed. The site generates the electricity from sewage sludge, the semi-solid by-product of waste water treatment – using a technique called Combined Heat and Power (CHP). On average the Galashiels site generates more than 18,000 kWh/week of renewable energy – which is enough to power 204 homes for a year. The site does still have to import a small amount of power when the CHP needs maintained, but consumption has dropped by a dramatic two-thirds in the last three years. Only two operators work at the Galashiels site which processes an average 150 m3 of sludge every day. The sludge is created as part of the water treatment process at the site – which serves a population equivalent of around 27,000. It also treats sludge from most other parts of the Borders, from Eyemouth in the east to Newcastleton in the west.
The National 27th Dec 2018 read more »
