Minworth Thermal Hydrolysis Plant (THP) Upgrade
Minworth, Birmingham · 2015-2018 (AMP6 project, completed 2018) [MWH Treatment, WaterProjectsOnline] · £60m [Severn Trent Water]; initial project cost £37m [MWH Treatment]
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchFull utilisation of digital delivery toolbox (laser-scanning, 3D models, 4D scheduling) and off-site construction (DfMA) to save 50,000 work hours and shorten program [MWH Treatment] - Early contractor involvement and collaborative planning with supply chain [WaterProjectsOnline] - Dedicated Interface Manager role to plan, communicate, and manage interface activity [MWH Treatment] - Project delivered within budget and ahead of schedule [MWH Treatment]
Key engineering challenges
Integrating a new THP into an existing large-scale STW with minimal disruption [MWH Treatment] - Enhancing renewable energy production and biogas yield from sludge [WaterProjectsOnline] - Achieving high plant availability (greater than 95%) [MWH Treatment] - Managing complex interfaces between new and existing assets [MWH Treatment]
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Severn Trent Water
- Lead contractor
- MWH Treatment [MWH Treatment]
- Lead designers
- MWH Treatment (concept design verification and detailed design) [WaterProjectsOnline]
- Project type
- upgrade
- Scale
- Processes 250 tonnes of dry solids per day at peak [WaterProjectsOnline]; 8MW CHP capacity; produces 30% of Severn Trent's green energy [WaterProjectsOnline]; increases clean energy generation by almost a third [Severn Trent Water]
- Disciplines
- Process; mechanical; electrical; civil; environmental; digital engineering
- Standards & frameworks
- AMP6; CDM Regulations; Environmental Agency regulations
Sources: MWH Treatment: https://www.mwhtreatment.com/case-study/minworth-thermal-hydrolysis-plant/ (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - Severn Trent Water: https://www.stwater.co.uk/news/news-releases/severntrentinvestsinthermalhydrolysisplant/ (Accessed: 2026-06-10) - WaterProjectsOnline: https://waterprojectsonline.com/case-studies/minworth-thermal-hydrolysis-plant-2/ (Accessed: 2026-06-10)