wastewater utilities of the future: investing in renewable
TRANSCRIPT
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
1. How much RE and what fraction is Biogas?
Not for citation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
1. How much RE and what fraction is Biogas?
Not for citation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…
Need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet…
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 $/unit…
USA
Australia
% Agreement with the options given
COSTS1
Not for citation
3. What is driving WWU to invest in biogas?
Survey 4625 data
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Need to contribute to grid overall performance…
Desire to improve voltage and frequency…
Investment in peak energy demand management…
City (or other local government) strategic plan…
RE is a long-term strategic investment
Air pollution regulations to reduce VOCs and GHGs
Need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet…
Improve environmental management including…
Need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet…
Desire to enhance system resiliency and response…
Need to address ongoing operational cost savings
Helps meet community expectations to…
Utility strategic energy management plan…
State/Province strategic plan encourages it
Desire to acquire lowest cost to utility ($/kWh)…
Need to reduce costs in terms of $/unit…
USA
Australia
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Not for citation% Agreement with the options given
3. What is driving WWU to invest in biogas?
2
Survey 4625 data
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Need to contribute to grid overall performance…
Desire to improve voltage and frequency…
Investment in peak energy demand management…
City (or other local government) strategic plan…
RE is a long-term strategic investment
Air pollution regulations to reduce VOCs and GHGs
Need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet…
Improve environmental management including…
Need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet…
Desire to enhance system resiliency and response…
Need to address ongoing operational cost savings
Helps meet community expectations to…
Utility strategic energy management plan…
State/Province strategic plan encourages it
Desire to acquire lowest cost to utility ($/kWh)…
Need to reduce costs in terms of $/unit…
USA
Australia
COMMUNITY
Not for citation% Agreement with the options given
3. What is driving WWU to invest in biogas?
3
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Need to contribute to grid overall performance…
Desire to improve voltage and frequency…
Investment in peak energy demand management…
City (or other local government) strategic plan…
RE is a long-term strategic investment
Air pollution regulations to reduce VOCs and GHGs
Need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet…
Improve environmental management including…
Need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet…
Desire to enhance system resiliency and response…
Need to address ongoing operational cost savings
Helps meet community expectations to…
Utility strategic energy management plan…
State/Province strategic plan encourages it
Desire to acquire lowest cost to utility ($/kWh)…
Need to reduce costs in terms of $/unit…
USA
Australia
Survey 4625 data
GHG Emissions
Not for citation% Agreement with the options given
3. What is driving WWU to invest in biogas?
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