One of the largest consumers of energy in the US is water and wastewater treatment plants.
Because of the need for large horsepower pumps and blowers, a municipal water and wastewater treatment plant consumes a tremendous amount of kilowatt hours of electricity. The energy cost is factored into the “cost of production” of water or wastewater treatment, and the “rate base” charge is increased accordingly to the consumer.
Does Renewable Power Work in a Water Treatment Plant?
Because solar energy is “space intensive,” you do not see a lot of solar power being deployed across the USA at water treatment plants. In our opinion, this is a mistake, and most likely, the decision was made back when solar power output was much lower. With the increased efficiency of solar panels and decreased production cost, it makes tremendous sense to revisit the use of Solar energy to offset the operational cost of a water treatment plant or wastewater treatment plant operation.
Providing solar energy for specific pieces of process equipment is also a viable option when you consider deploying solar energy. For example, operating a Degasification tower or Decarbonator utilizing 10 350-watt solar panels will generate 3500 watts during peak daylight hours and enough to offset the cost of smaller horsepower blower motors. If the solar panels are configured as a canopy, they can also provide a nice shade or protective barrier above the piece of equipment if installed outdoors, as most packed column towers are located outside.
What about other forms of renewable energy? Do they work?
At water treatment or wastewater treatment facilities. Co-generation use has been around for many years at Wastewater plant facilities wastewater treatment plants. A cogeneration unit is a combination “Generator” to produce power and a “Thermal” energy source to produce heated water. The water can be used domestically or can be used to produce chilled water with the help of a Chiller system. The wastewater treatment plant provides a critical component by producing gases such as “Methane,” which can be used as a cogeneration unit fuel source. Water treatment plants do not produce methane or other combustible forms of gases like a cogeneration plant would produce, so you normally do not see Cogeneration system units deployed at a Water treatment facility.
Solar Thermal is another renewable energy that can be deployed and utilized at either a water treatment facility or a Wastewater treatment plant. Solar Thermal can provide a nice energy-saving benefit for the plant with a typical return on investment (ROI) of 2-3 years without incentives if there is a need for hot water for domestic use.
Other energy-saving methods are being evaluated daily at DeLoach Industries, including using energy storage to reduce operating costs during peak hours of operations. This is called “Energy Shaving” and can play another role in lowering the operating costs of a Water Treatment Operation. For more information or to learn more, contact the professionals at DeLoach Industries Inc. at (941) 371-4995.
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