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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.

Topic Overview (PDF)
58 Projects 10 Web Tools 4 Case Studies 11 Webcasts
Integrated Planning & Water Management
Resource Recovery
Anaerobic Digestion
Innovation
Project #4625

Opportunities and Barriers for Renewable and Distributed Energy Resource Development at Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities

$379,558
In Progress

Project Highlights

The objectives of this project were to: Identify and discuss opportunities for distributed energy resource (DER) development at drinking water and wastewater utilities Assess the legislative, regulatory, and policy environment impacting DER developments Undertake case studies of implemented DER utility...

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Principal Investigator
Steven
Kenway
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 #4666
Case Study Compilation on Applying Risk Management Principles and Innovative...

The goal of this research is to develop case studies on strategies and tools for applying...

Project Update
07/10/2019

News

Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility

Featured Facility
Ana Pena-Tijerina
06/14/2019

Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility (VCWRF) has implemented numerous energy-related improvements by executing an Energy Savings Performance Contract with Johnson Controls, Inc.

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Resources

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Related Projects

Project #1416

Pathways to Energy Neutrality: Victor Valley Regional Water Reclamation Facility, California

Completed

This informative 13-page factsheet documents VVRWRF’s journey from aging facility with outdated infrastructure to one that incorporated energy neutrality as a utility-wide goal, allowing it to be named...

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Project #1415

Assessment of Technology Advancements for Future Energy Reduction

Completed

This research reviews 18 areas of emerging technology that have the potential to reduce the need for purchased energy and could improve the wastewater industry’s ability to beneficially...

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Project #1550

LCAMER: An Assessment Tool for Managing Cost-Effective Energy Recovery from Anaerobically Digested Wastewater Solids

Completed

LCAMER (Life Cycle Assessment Manager for Energy Recovery) is a spreadsheet-based tool developed for comparing the benefits and costs of onsite energy recovery alternatives throughout the lifetime of...

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Project #4892

Quality of Biogas Derived from Wastewater Solids and Co-Digested Organic Wastes: A Characterization Study

In Progress

Co-digestion allows utilities to beneficially reuse organic matter and produce renewable energy. However, adding organic matter can result in unintended consequences to facility operation, such as digester foaming...

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Project #4788

State of the Science and Issues Related to Heat Recovery from Wastewater

In Progress

This research explores the feasibility of recovering thermal energy from sewage, and what the state of current technology is for doing so, It is the first step identifying...

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Project #4971

Leveraging the Role of Pretreatment Programs in One Water Initiatives: Synethesis of Best Practices and Path Forward

In Progress

To support the concept of One Water, utilities and municipalities are better integrating water resources and expanding on traditional pretreatment programs. These innovations can provide a meaningful and...

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Related Topics

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Resource Recovery

Link

Anaerobic Digestion

Link

Integrated Planning & Water Management

Link

Utility Management

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