A HOYLAKE company's revolutionary new aerator initiative, which has the potential for energy-saving equivalent to the output of a small nuclear power station, is being trialled by United Utilities.

The Newton Industrial Group has developed a wastewater aerator which is also highly-effective in introducing oxygen into fish farms and treating water from disused mines.

Like all good ideas simplicity is the essence of the Newton Gravity Aerator. It uses gravity as the driving force to efficiently oxygenate water.

Managing director John Haworth explained: "Our system could have a positive environmental impact. I estimate that if every UK sewage plant used it, the energy saving would be the same as 60 modern wind turbines, or a small nuclear power station.

"It would also stop 600,000 tonnes of unwanted carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere from power generation - vital statistics as the world struggles to stop 'greenhouse' gas build-up and hold back global warning."

The aerator design is based on extensive research by a team of scientists led by Claude Dyson, at Liverpool John Moores University.

United Utilities, the UK's biggest utility company, has tested the Newton system extensively at its Ellesmere Port process technology centre. Now a production-scale trial is taking place at Skelmersdale Wastewater Treatment Works.

Business advice organisation Motivating Merseyside Business to Innovate made the connection between the company and United Utilities.

John Howarth said: "They have been aerating effluent for over 100 years, but the Newton system is the first radical new aeration method since venturi aerators were developed 50 years ago."