Significant Carbon Savings from Circular Economy Approach

“We are keen to support Scottish Water and will embrace the challenge to deliver a significant reduction in investment emissions, by adopting low emission designs, using low carbon materials and promoting carbon innovation.
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Jason Cramb
Technical and Design Director, WGM

Adopting circular economy principles to refurbish rather than replace four scraper bridges at Dalmarnock Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) in Glasgow has resulted in an 80% carbon reduction.

The refurbishment of the storm tank bridges at Dalmarnock WWTW, in the East End of the city, is one element of a wider ongoing £53 million project, led by WGM Engineering, one of Scottish Water’s partners, to deliver various new and refurbished assets that will ensure the WWTW continues to meet regulatory standards and associated discharge consents.

Scottish Water is the only water company to include investment emissions in its net zero goal and is leading on this in the public sector in Scotland.

Our goal is to reduce the carbon intensity of our investment by 75% through adopting low or zero emissions design, materials and construction techniques and we will need to work in partnership with our delivery and supply chain partners to achieve this.

WGM have their own ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions, aiming for a 75% reduction by 2030. Their MEICA (Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control and Automation) Investment Strategy is based on Circular Economy principles, focusing on the refurbishment and reuse of materials and equipment.

Adopting this strategy in Scottish Water’s SR21 investment period and beyond will have a significant impact on both WGM and Scottish Water's carbon emission reduction targets.

WGM Technical and Design Director Jason Cramb said: "WGM applaud Scottish Water for setting ambitious carbon emission reduction targets, as detailed in their Net Zero Emissions Routemap.

“This sets out a journey to Beyond Net Zero Emissions by 2040, which we believe is both aspirational and achievable. It clearly lays down the challenge for Scottish Water's Investment Supply Chain partners, to transform the way in which we operate. At WGM, we are keen to support Scottish Water and will embrace the challenge to deliver a significant reduction in investment emissions, by adopting low emission designs, using low carbon materials and promoting carbon innovation."