London’s Getting Energy from Discarded Cooking Oil
Fat and oil used for cooking are often poured into sinks and cause buildup in drains and ultimately end up in sewer systems. This waste, called fatbergs in England, will be reused as energy at a fat-fueled power station in east London.
2OC is the energy company that will be using fat and oil waste from restaurants in order to produce renewable electricity for Thames Water, a wastewater and water services provider. The two companies have signed a 20 year agreement. The new plant is expected to yield 130 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity each year, which is enough to power 39,000 homes.
When Thames Water is not in need of the output, the power will be made available to the grid. Power will be sourced, produced, and used across London, according to 2OC CEO, Andrew Mercer. The plant is expected to be completed and in full operation in 2015.