Clean technology: Power from 'fatbergs'

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Fat, oil and "fatberg" build-ups are the new fuel products for a power station in east London which will produce enough power to run 39,000 homes.

The Beckton power station, built by company 20C, will provide more than half of the generated power to Thames Water in order to run Beckston sewage works, a facility serving 3.5 million people, and a desalination plant that is used in times of major drought or other emergencies. Leftover energy will be sold to the national grid.

Andrew Mercer, CEO of 20C, said that the fatty leftovers are turned into a fuel which gives off no smoke and no smells. These fats, oils and greases are diverted from landfill or saved from being tipped down the drain. Some of the oil wastes also come from food manufacturers.

The 20-year deal with Thames Water is worth over 200 million pounds (NZ$370m) and will kick off in 2015, when the plant is fully operating. Thames Water states that residiual fats and oils cause the majority of sewer bloackages, which accounts for around NZ$1.85m a month month for removal.