Advancing Energy Efficiency in Wastewater Treatment...
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Advancing Energy Efficiency in Wastewater Treatment Plants Ben Bolton, Energy Programs Administrator NASEO Annual Meeting September 18, 2017
Transcript of Advancing Energy Efficiency in Wastewater Treatment...
Advancing Energy Efficiency in Wastewater Treatment Plants
Ben Bolton, Energy Programs Administrator NASEO Annual Meeting
September 18, 2017
Energy Use in Wastewater Systems
Energy Efficiency Partnership
Region 4
2015 SEP Competitive Award - $469,947
• Advancing Energy Efficiency in Wastewater Utilities
• Extends work of the partnership with same team
• Assists Alabama in creating program
• Plan: Assess 24 wastewater systems across 2.5 years and 2 states
• Project To Date: 23 systems assessed
2015 SEP Competitive Award • Identified during Cycle 1 in
Tennessee: • $390,468/year cost savings • 4,358,200 kWh/year savings • 23% average energy savings
per wastewater system
• Total nutrient reduction - 95 tons/year - 40% average nutrient
reduction per wastewater system
Process
• EPA Region 4 prioritizes wastewater systems based on submitted water quality data.
• Project team meets in person and creates list of candidates to invite to participate.
• Team checks with environmental field inspectors and Comptroller’s Office for issues and referrals.
• Deputy Commissioner sends letter to inviting the Mayor and copies operators to participate.
• Perform energy assessment site visits. • 2 to 3 Technical Workshops with free CEUs • Provide implementation and tracking support
Fayetteville Wastewater Treatment Plant
Measured Energy Savings
0
500
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4500
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June 2010 - May 20111 June 2011 - May 2012 June 2012 - May 2013 June 2013 - May 2014 June 2014 - May 2015
Fayetteville WWTP Yearly Energy Use
June 2010 - May 20111 June 2011 - May 2012 June 2012 - May 2013 June 2013 - May 2014 June 2014 - May 2015
39 % Savings
Average: 4,470 kWh/MG Average: 2,728 kWh/MG
kWh/MG = kilowatt-hours per million gallons of water treated
Leveraged Resources - EPA • EPA Regional Office
• Develops case studies and track long term savings • Provides Energy Assessment Tool, simple Excel-
based energy tracking tool • Staff became part of international delegation. • Provided funding for workshop for field inspectors
- Site visit to wastewater treatment plants on cities either side of Ft. Campbell (KY) Army base
• Invited Kentucky to participate, which led to pilot program for 3 wastewater systems
• Trial underway to recognize Tennessee operator CEUs in Kentucky and Alabama
Wetumpka, AL
Optimization Opportunities: • Low hydraulic and organic
loading • High effluent nitrate
• Flexible aeration system
– 12 75-HP Surface Aerators – Variable Frequency Drives – 2 40-HPMixers
1.5/4.5 MGD
150 mg/L BOD
Wetumpka, AL – 17% Energy Savings
Recommendations: • Reduce number of
aeration basins in service • Reduce nitrate through
intermittent aeration
• Reduce supplied oxygen
– Lower DO set points – Reduce speed of aerators
OFFLINE
DOE Industrial Assessment Centers
Leveraged Resources – DOE IACs
• DOE Industrial Assessment Centers • Provide engineer professors as speakers • IAC Coordinator attended TN workshop • Can assess drinking water system pumps • Funded graduate student to Wastewater
Engineering Professor for biokentic model into web-based BioTiger model
• Spoke at DOE Better Buildings on initiative • https://energy.gov/eere/amo/industrial-
assessment-centers-iacs
Leveraged Resources – TVA
• TVA EnergyRighttm Solutions • Provide incentives for business and industry • Work with wastewater systems in program • Demand Response and Energy Efficiency are
part of Integrated Resource Plan • https://www.energyright.com/For-Business-
%2B-Industry
Best Practices
• Develop a partnership using state & federal resources • Involve State Environmental Agency’s Compliance and
Enforcement Wastewater staff • Gather information from:
• Environmental water staff • Environmental field inspectors • U.S. EPA Regional Office • State Financial Municipal Audit Division
• Involve elected officials and management • Offer Continuing Education Units for Workshops
Lessons Learned
• Any size plant can find savings.
• Small investments produce big results.
• Change the energy culture. • Using savings for upgrades motivates staff to
find more opportunities.
• City hall and treatment plants share responsibility for effective energy management.
Questions?
Ben Bolton Energy Programs Administrator Office of Energy Programs (615) 741-2994 [email protected]
Burgess Falls State Park
Additional Resources Tennessee Office of Energy Programs project website:
http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/topic/energy-doe-area-2-award-energy-efficiency-wastewater
Energy Best Practices Guide: Water and Wastewater Industry http://dnr.wi.gov/aid/documents/eif/focusonenergy_waterandwastewater_guidebook.pdf
Self-Assessment for Wastewater Treatment Plant Optimization http://www.tennessee.gov/assets/entities/environment/attachments/energy_self_assessment_for_WWTP_optimization.pdf
EPA Water Infrastructure and Resiliency Financing Center https://www.epa.gov/waterfinancecenter/financing-resilient-and-sustainable-water-infrastructure
Resources
http://efcnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/TN-Water-Wastewater-Funds-2016.pdf
This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), under Award Number DE-EE0007226.
Disclaimer: “The information, data, or work presented herein was funded in part by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.”
