Thames Water plans to restart desalination plant – after drought has ended
Utility company’s plant, which has only run five times, now has an estimated total cost of £500m Thames Water is preparing the UK’s only desalination plant to restart operations later this year – but it will only be ready in the winter, long after the current drought is likely to have passed. The utility company said that it was hoping to start operating its plant in Beckton, east London, “by the…
Thames Water, the utility company that supplies 16 million customers in London and the Thames valley, is set to restart its desalination plant in Beckton, east London, later this year. However, the plant will only be prepared for winter use, which is expected after the current drought ends. The total cost of the plant, now estimated at £500m, has provided minimal return to customers over the past 15 years.
Despite operating only five times, the Beckton plant has only supplied 7.2bn litres of drinking water or about seven days' worth of the capital's daily demand. The plant's design allows it to use seawater from the Thames estuary during times of drought, but it has hardly been utilized in the past 15 years. The prime minister, Andy Burnham, is expected to decide on the company's future in the coming weeks, with a focus on its performance during the drought.
Thames Water's performance will also be closely monitored by the government, with concerns over the financial viability of operating the plant due to high electricity costs. The plant's chief executive, Chris Weston, has expressed frustration over the plant's performance and lack of investment. Despite these issues, the plant could prove more financially viable in cooler temperatures if wind power is abundant and there is less strain on the grid, potentially lowering electricity prices.
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