25 June 2007
Consumers could find themselves paying less for water bills in the future, if new water mains technology is successful.
Micro-turbines, which would be installed in existing water and wastewater mains pipes, have the potential to generate enough energy to power 7,000 homes, or boil water for 24,000 cups of tea every hour.
The technology which has been trialled in the US, acts like a conventional wind turbine. When water flows through the water pipes it then passes through the turbines, generating electricity.
"The concept of water mains turbines has been around for a while although the technology which supports it is new and proven," George Taylor, Managing Director of Rentricity Ltd, the new company set up to deal with the technology, said.
"It's an extremely exciting development given escalating energy prices and the increasing demands on business and society to devise alternative energy sources," he added.