1 Renewable Energy for the Wastewater Industry: the Office of Water Perspective WEFTEC 07 Workshop October 13, 2007 Jim Wheeler, USEPA Office of Wastewater Management

2 Who We Are US EPA’s Office of Water –Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water –Office of Science and Technology –Office of Wetland, Oceans, and Watersheds –Office of Wastewater Management Municipal wastewater treatment technology Strom water management Biosolids management Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) Water conservation/wastewater reuse Decentralized (on-site) treatment/Small Community options Manage the NPDES Program Clean Water Needs Survey

3 Why Do We Care? Water/Wastewater treatment use approximately 3% of the nation’s energy Water –350 kWH/MG for raw water pumping and treatment –1150 kWH/MG for pumping and distribution –National average = 1500kWH/MG Wastewater –150 kWH/MG for raw sewage collection and pumping –1050 kWH/MG wastewater and solids treatment –National average = 1200kWH/MG

4 Why Do We Care? For wastewater - energy represents 25-30% of the total plant O&M –Raw sewage pumping = 12% –Aeration = 52% –Solid handling = 30% –Lighting, heating, AC, and masc. = 6%

5 Why is this Important? Approximately 16,583 municipal treatment plants in the US Approximately 1,006 have anaerobic digestion Approximately 544 have flows greater than 5 MDG Only106 utilize the gas for heat or power

6 Why is this Important? Generates 1,700 # of solids per MGD Can produce 10,700 ft 3 of digester gas per MGD Fuel value BTUs/ft 3 Equivalent to 6,500,000 BTUs per MGD Can generate kWh per MGD All the municipal Plants at 5 MGD and greater could produce 340MW of “green energy” per year Provides 20-60% of the plants energy needs

7 What is OW’s Interest Part of the Agency’s broad climate change strategy Municipal plants can provide green power Can reduce green house gases emissions Can reduces overall O&M coast Supports sustainability Can provide auxiliary power during power outages (prevents bypasses and overflows – thus protecting water quality)

8 OW Draft Climate Change Strategy Impact on Water Resources –Water supply –Wet weather flows –Sea level rise Greenhouse gas mitigation –Source control –Generation Education

9 What is OW Doing? Jointly with other EPA offices - developing a comprehensive climate change strategy –Energy conservation – 20% reduction by 2010 –Reduce GHG emissions - 20% by 2010 –Reduce water use – 20% by 2010 –Maximize the production and reuse of on-site generated energy –Maximize the reuse of wastewater effluent –Maximize the use of storm water –More effectively use decentralized systems

10 What is OWM Doing? Municipal Technology Fact Sheets –Energy Conservation –Viable Sources of Auxiliary Power –Two Stage Digestion –Microturbines –Solar Cells –Fuel Cells –Wind Turbines

11 What is OWM Doing? Emerging Technologies Report –Collections systems –Biosolids Management –Wastewater Treatment –Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy (proposed) Demonstration Projects –King County, WA – carbonate fuel cell –Columbus, GA – digester Incentives –Under SRF –Under other programs

12 What Is OWM Doing? Water Sense –Partnership with utilities, manufacturers, local governments, and non-profit organizations Promote water efficiency by industries, local government, developers and individuals. Raise public awareness Support the development of water efficient products Testing and labeling by independent third party Look at incentives (funding, tax credits, etc.)

13 What is OWM Doing? Water Sense –Save water save money Average household could save more than $130 per year Utilities could save 3 trillion gallons of water per year The country could save approximately $17 billion per year –Save water save energy 1% of the homes retrofitting with water efficient fixtures could save 100 million kW of electricity per year 1% of the homes replace old toilets with high-efficiency toilets could save 38 million kW of electricity per year

14 What is OWM Doing? Storm water management supports –Phase I and II Strom water permit program –Low impact development –Minimize paved areas –Pond, marshes, and wetlands –Buffer zones –Green roofs and roof gardens –Storm water reuse/ground water recharge –ASCE - Storm Water BMP Data Base

15 OWM Partners Working with out partners –EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation Energy Star Combined Heat and Power Partnership –EPA’s Office of research and development –WEF Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design Committee –Water Environment Research Foundation Optimization of Wastewater and Solids Operations Challenge –NACWA –CEE –EPRI –NYSERDA

16 Conclusions EPA is a major player in promoting: –Water conservation –Energy conservation in municipal water and wastewater treatment plants –Utilization of on-site generation of heat and power from biogas –Energy self-sufficiency through utilization of alternate power source (solar, wind, hydro) –Reduction of GHG emissions

17 James Wheeler US EPA Municipal Technology Branch MC 4204M 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC (202)