Water technology partner RSE has collaborated with leading technology company Siemens to explore how digitalisation can deliver decarbonisation of the water treatment process.
The two businesses have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), outlining an ambition to integrate Siemens’ industry-leading digital, automation and AI technologies into RSE’s modular water treatment systems to deliver efficient and scalable solutions.
The MoU sets out a phased business plan, beginning with feasibility and pilot projects in 2025, moving toward full-scale delivery in 2026 and beyond.
Priorities will include exploring the decarbonisation of infrastructure and the development of net zero water treatment processes. And alongside an initial focus on utilities, the collaboration brings the potential to scale into sectors such as food and beverage, industrial and pharmaceuticals in the years to come.
The two businesses have also committed to prioritise skills development, enabling the upskilling of the water workforce through collaborative training programmes.
RSE is a leading Scotland-based water technology company specialising in the design, manufacture and maintenance of treatment plants. Renowned for its innovative modular build methodology, it specialises in delivering advanced solutions for purifying drinking water, recycling wastewater and cleaning water in industrial processes.
The collaboration is the latest in a series facilitated by Siemens to encourage innovation in the water sector. This includes supporting Northumbrian Water Group in using smart metering and grid software to detect leakages and working with Severn Trent Water on the development of the ‘Net Zero Hub’ - world’s first carbon neutral wastewater treatment plant.
Brian Holliday, Managing Director, Digital Industries at Siemens UK and Ireland, said: “Decarbonisation is the defining issue of our time, which will only be achievable through collaboration across the industry and its supply chain.
“By pooling our technical expertise with RSE’s extensive infrastructure and sector experience, our ambition is to help facilitate a step change in the way that the industry approaches water treatment, setting a blueprint for successful collaboration and knowledge sharing in the future.”
Stephen Slessor, CEO at RSE said: “This MoU represents a major milestone in our work to shape the future of clean water and low-carbon infrastructure on a global scale, as we seek to revolutionise the water treatment process through digitalisation.
“Siemens’ expertise in using digital technology to deliver transformational benefits is well documented, and we look forward to developing this collaboration further in the coming years to tackle the net zero challenge across a number of sectors.”
