wastewater utilities of the future: investing in renewable

BioEnergy Conference

22 November 2017

Sydney

Alice Strazzabosco

PhD Candidate

Water-Energy-Carbon Group, Chemical Engineering

Wastewater Utilities of the future: investing in Renewable Energy and knowing why

Wastewater Utilities (WWU) Treat sewage

regardless of the energy needed

BUT…

Background of Project

WWU increasingly interest in Renewable Energy (RE)

SO…PhD goals:

• Understand how integration of RE in WW sector ishappening

• Quantify the current RE generated from the WW sector

• Identify the drivers behind this change

Why is this happening?

High Energy Consumption

High Energy Costs

GHG Emissions

Sustainable Energy

Management

Energy Efficiency Programs

Energy Demand

Management

Renewable Energy

Generation

Aim: What is the Role of Biogas for WWU?

1. How much RE is currently produced in Australia and in the rest of the world from the WW sector and what fraction of it is biogas?

2. Among different RE sources, how important is Biogas for the WW sector?

3. What is driving WWU to invest in biogas generation?

1. How much RE and what fraction is Biogas?

Methodology:

• Literature Review:

▪ Academic publications

▪Water and Wastewater Utilities Annual Reports

▪ Technical Reports


Not for citation

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

ACTEW (ACT)

SA Water (SA)

Glenelg-SA Water (SA)

Bolivar-SA Water (SA)

QUU (QLD)

Melbourne Water E (VIC)

Melbourne Water W (VIC)

Sydney water (NSW)

CMSA (CA)

West Lafayette (IN)

Hill Canyon (CA)

Janesville (WI)

Sheboygan (WI)

EBMUD (CA)

DITP (MA)

GL/y of treated wastewater

% of the Energy Needs produced from Renewable Resources

Wind

Solar

Hydro

An.Dig.

Co-Dig.

GL/yAustralia

USA


Not for citation

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130

ACTEW (ACT)

SA Water (SA)

Glenelg-SA Water (SA)

Bolivar-SA Water (SA)

QUU (QLD)

Melbourne Water E (VIC)

Melbourne Water W (VIC)

Sydney water (NSW)

CMSA (CA)

West Lafayette (IN)

Hill Canyon (CA)

Janesville (WI)

Sheboygan (WI)

EBMUD (CA)

DITP (MA)

GL/y of treated wastewater

% of the Energy Needs produced from Renewable Resources

Wind

Solar

Hydro

An.Dig.

Co-Dig.

GL/y

100

2. Among different RE, how important is

Biogas?

Methodology:

• Global Survey:

Project 4625 - Water Research Foundation

Question: “What is the most important RE resource currently and in 10 years?”

Answer: 11 source options to choose from

3 preferences in order of importance

Australia USA Rest of the World

1stAn. Digestion (27%) An. Digestion (27%) An. Digestion (18%)

2nd Solar PV (25%) Solar PV (20%) Solar PV (15%)

3rd Co-Digestion (18%) Co-Digestion (17%) Hydropower (15%)

Total Answers 44 34 13

Survey 4625 data

2. Most Important RE - Currently

Not for citation% standardised

Australia USA Rest of the World

1stSolar PV (32%) Co-Digestion (30%) Heat Recovery (19%)

2nd Co-Digestion (27%) Solar PV (19%) Co-Digestion (16%)

3rd An. Digestion (10%) An. Digestion (14%) Solar PV (14%)

Total Answers 43 33 13

Survey 4625 data

2. Most Important RE - In 10 years

Not for citation% standardised

3. What is driving WWU to invest in biogas?

Methodology:

• Global Survey:

Project 4625 - Water Research Foundation

Question: “How would you rate the following drivers for developing new RE projects?”

Answer: Express agreement with Driver options given

Survey 4625 data

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Need to contribute to grid overall performance…

Desire to improve voltage and frequency…

Investment in peak energy demand management…

City (or other local government) strategic plan…

RE is a long-term strategic investment

Air pollution regulations to reduce VOCs and GHGs

Need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet…

Improve environmental management including…


Desire to enhance system resiliency and response…

Need to address ongoing operational cost savings

Helps meet community expectations to…

Utility strategic energy management plan…

State/Province strategic plan encourages it

Desire to acquire lowest cost to utility ($/kWh)…

Need to reduce costs in terms of $/unit…

USA

Australia

% Agreement with the options given

COSTS1

Not for citation


Survey 4625 data

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

















USA

Australia

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Not for citation% Agreement with the options given


2

Survey 4625 data

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

















USA

Australia

COMMUNITY



3

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

















USA

Australia

Survey 4625 data

GHG Emissions



5

Conclusions

• Biogas main role for WWU as RE resource to reduceenergy costs

• Co-Digestion can help WWU to become energyproducers

• In the future, a mix of RE sources is more likely tohappen

• GHG mitigation not enough to drive RE investments

Thank You!

Acknowledgements

❖Associate Professor Steven Kenway

❖Professor Paul Lant

❖UQ Water-Energy-Carbon Nexus Group

wastewater utilities of the future: investing in renewable

Documents