A SEWAGE plant in York has helped Yorkshire Water cut its carbon emissions by 4.3 per cent in the past three years.

Investment in a renewable energy technology known as anaerobic digestion has played a leading role in the reduction, with 18 of the company’s major sewage treatment works each generating electricity from this renewable source.

This includes the Naburn sewage treatment works, which generates 40 per cent of its energy from renewables.

The decrease in emissions has helped the firm retain its Carbon Trust Standard.

Erica Lack, one of Yorkshire Water’s energy and recycling managers, said: “To achieve a reduction of over four per cent in carbon emissions within the last three years demonstrates we are serious about improving the environmental performance of the business.

“Water and waste water treatment is a hugely energy-intensive process, but thanks to advances in technology and lots of hard work from colleagues across the business, we are making major reductions in operational emissions.”

Anaerobic digestion converts human sludge into biogas which is then used to make electricity.

The company also uses wind turbines and hydro-turbines to generate green power. It aims to create 12 per cent of its total energy needs from renewable sources in 2016/17, which will help reduce its annual electricity costs of about £50m.