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Energy Optimization

For most water facilities, energy is one of the highest costs in their operating budget. Stricter regulations are pushing facilities to use even more advanced—and energy-intensive—treatment technologies. Optimizing energy use can provide huge cost savings and numerous additional benefits, including improving air quality, protecting the environment, and bolstering energy security. WRF has published more than 100 projects that explore ways to not only optimize current energy use, but to generate power as well—setting the course for a self-sufficient water sector.

For more information, contact Sanjana Yagnambhatt.

Topic Overview (PDF)
128 Projects 10 Web Tools 4 Case Studies 7 Webcasts
Anaerobic Digestion
Integrated Planning & Water Management
Resource Recovery
Project 5091

Developing a Framework for Quantifying Energy Optimization Reporting

$441,825
Completed

Project Highlights

Energy projects within the water sector are often discretionary and initiated based on projected annual energy savings metrics. The water sector lacks standard energy savings estimation procedures, as well as measurement and verification approaches and procedures that adhere to the...

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Principal Investigator
Nancy
Andrews
Research Manager
Mr. Ashwin Dhanasekar

Energy is Embedded in Wastewater

This video discusses a suite of past WRF research co-funded by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA), which focused on barriers to and strategies for energy optimization at water resource recovery facilities. 

Recent Updates

Project 5220
Sewer Methane Methods for Everyone

Reporting Period: April 1, 2024 - June 1, 2024

Project Update
09/04/2024
Project 5269
Understanding the Factors Affecting PFAS Variability in the...

Reporting Period: December 2024 – February 2025

Project Update
04/04/2025
Project 5261
Smart Metering Playbook: Compendium of Resources ...

April 15, 2024 – June 15, 2024 

Project Update
07/16/2024
Project 5175
Navigating One Water Planning through Municipal Water Programs:...

Reporting Period: July 2024 – December 2024

Project Update
02/20/2025
Project 5188
Establishing Industry-Wide Guidance for Water Utility Life...

Reporting Period: April - September 2024

Project Update
11/18/2024
Project 5269
Understanding the Factors Affecting PFAS Variability in the...

Reporting Period: March 1, 2024 – August 31, 2024

Project Update
10/09/2024
Project 5175
Navigating One Water Planning through Municipal Water Programs:...

Reporting Period: April 1 – June 30, 2024

Project Update
08/28/2024
Project 5168
Enhancing Drinking Water Treatment Resilience to ...

Reporting Period: April --- June 2024

Project Update
07/31/2024
Project 5196
One Water Program Management: A Knowledge ...
Project Update
07/31/2024
Project 5176
Integrating Climate Change Impacts with Wet Weather Management,...

Reporting Period: November 2023 – April 2024

Project Update
07/23/2024

Resources

View all Energy Optimization Resources

News

Holistic Flood Management Under Climate Impacts

By Harry Zhang, PhD, PE, The Water Research Foundation
11/18/2024

Municipalities and utilities are facing unprecedented challenges as they plan for extreme precipitation and flooding, which are becoming more frequent and less predictable. There was Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Superstorm...

Interview with Dr. William Tarpeh

Profile
By Julia Dinmore, The Water Research Foundation
12/12/2023

Turning Waste into Gold with Dr. William Tarpeh A rare few people end up in the career they decided for themselves as children. More often, the question “What do you...

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Related Topics

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Resource Recovery

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Anaerobic Digestion

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Integrated Planning & Water Management

Link

Utility Finance

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Utility Management

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