Levidian and United Utilities secure Ofwat funding to scale sustainable graphene production from wastewater biogas
Cambridge-based advanced materials company Levidian and United Utilities have secured funding through Ofwat’s latest Water Breakthrough Challenge to scale the production of sustainably produced graphene and hydrogen from wastewater biogas.
The £9.5 million programme, led by United Utilities, will see a significantly scaled-up version of Levidian’s LOOP technology deployed at Davyhulme Wastewater Treatment Works in Manchester.
The project builds on a successful earlier demonstration funded through the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which proved that wastewater biogas could be used as a feedstock to produce both hydrogen and high-quality graphene.
The new project, titled Splitting Biogas, Multiplying Value, aims to accelerate the commercial deployment of the technology and explore wider adoption across the UK water sector.
Alongside United Utilities and Levidian, the programme brings together a broad industrial ecosystem including Concretene, ULEMCo, Carbon Ion Energy and Tarmac to explore commercial applications for the graphene and hydrogen produced.
The project will also involve collaboration with Severn Trent Water, Anglian Water, South West Water, Wessex Water, Yorkshire Water and Scottish Water to assess future deployment opportunities across the sector.
Ian Hopkins, CCO of Levidian, said:
“This project marks an important step forward in scaling the production of sustainable graphene from biogas.
We have already demonstrated that wastewater biogas can be converted into valuable advanced materials and hydrogen using LOOP. The focus now is moving from successful pilot projects towards industrial deployment and real commercial applications.
What is particularly exciting is the ecosystem developing around the project - with partners already exploring how graphene can deliver performance and sustainability benefits across construction, transport and energy storage.”
Tom Lissett, Bioresources and Green Energy Director at United Utilities said:
“These exciting projects are focused on how we can create the most value from sludge processing and deliver the most efficient operations for our customers.
We know that graphene can be produced from a sustainable biogas feedstock and has fantastic potential to be used to further reduce carbon within and beyond the water sector. The LOOP system could also produce up to 75,000 tonnes of hydrogen a year – enough to fuel more than 40% of all UK bus and coach journeys. Our ambition is to see this transformative technology used more widely across the sector, playing a key role in the UK’s transition to net zero.”
Jo Jolly, Director, Innovation, Ofwat, said:
“The water sector is going through its biggest transformation in 30 years. We have to make sure these changes drive far better outcomes for society and the environment. Multiple urgent challenges must be solved. And, importantly, our mindset must change. So that's our mission: bold, innovative solutions that take a long-term approach to the health of our vital water system and the impact of the water industry on environments and communities. This line-up of winners shows us just what can be achieved when we set our minds to it.”
Levidian’s patented LOOP technology uses microwave plasma to crack methane into hydrogen and solid carbon in the form of graphene, creating value from existing gas streams without combustion.
Graphene is an advanced material with potential applications across sectors including concrete, batteries, polymers, coatings, electronics and energy systems.
The Water Breakthrough Challenge is delivered through Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund, which supports collaborative projects addressing major challenges facing the UK water sector.