Unlocking low-carbon hydrogen and graphene from wastewater biogas at scale
LOOP container at Manchester Bioresources Centre (MBC)
Innovation for a low-carbon wastewater industry
Hydrogen and graphene – a high-performance carbon material additive – have been produced from wastewater-derived biogas in the U.K. for the first time using an innovative technology known as LOOP, in a collaborative project funded by the U.K. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and delivered by Jacobs, United Utilities and Levidian.
LOOP is Levidian’s pioneering technology that has three primary benefits as a pre-combustion decarbonization system, a hydrogen production system and a high-value graphene generator. It works by splitting methane gas into hydrogen and capturing carbon in the form of high-quality graphene, generating value while supporting decarbonization objectives.
Jacobs worked alongside United Utilities and Levidian over several years through the Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) Innovation Program. The latest phase tested Levidian’s LOOP technology in a real-world wastewater treatment setting. Biogas methane – produced from on-site anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge – was converted into two valuable products: hydrogen and carbon in the form of graphene. Jacobs led the evaluation of the commercial, environmental and social value of applying LOOP in the U.K. water sector.
We are actively seeking new innovations that recover value from our operations to help us become more sustainable and benefit our customers. This project marks the first use of LOOP in the water sector, and we’re keen to explore how this technology helps us deliver on our net-zero carbon goal.
The challenge
The U.K. water industry delivers 15 billion liters of water and treats sewage from over 28 million properties every day. These energy-intensive operations consume 3% of the nation’s electricity and account for about 1% of UK greenhouse gas emissions.
The solution: LOOP technology
To reach net-zero operational emissions by 2030, the water sector is deploying a mix of technologies. Levidian’s LOOP offers one pathway to decarbonization – converting biomethane or biogas into low-carbon hydrogen and high-quality graphene. This could help reduce emissions, displace fossil fuels, and unlock circular value.
The project evaluated the technical and commercial feasibility of the LOOP technology for treating biogas through a demonstration plant at the Manchester Bioresources Centre, United Utilities’ largest bioresources anaerobic digestion site. Jacobs focused on three core areas:
- Commercial viability: We developed a commercialization plan, demonstrating that LOOP has the potential to address existing market gaps, unlock commercial opportunities and promote sustainable growth. Key opportunities were identified, including producing clean hydrogen comparable to green hydrogen using less intensive energy and capturing carbon as high-value graphene, a product with significant future demand.
- Life cycle assessment (LCA): successfully completed for both phases of the project, with the second phase based on data from the demonstration LOOP plant. The second assessment included the quantification of wider LCA impact categories in addition to carbon, including electricity and consumables use, equipment lifespan and carbon reductions associated with graphene sequestration and potential displacement of carbon in other materials.
- Social value and societal benefits: we created a social value strategy, including targets for partners to support green skills and deliver local socio-economic benefits through training and education, working with local Small and Medium Enterprises, upskilling and creating jobs in new and growth technology areas linked to LOOP.
The project has successfully demonstrated the viability of biogas as a feedstock in the water sector for hydrogen and graphene production. There is a clear need for a holistic assessment of biogas uses alongside commercial opportunities for these products.
Amanda Lake
Jacobs Head of Carbon and Circular Economy in Water Europe
Produced graphene storage container within LOOP container
LOOP signage