Local governments and municipalities can promote energy efficiency in their jurisdictions by improving the efficiency of their own municipal facilities, such as that of water pumping treatment and sewage treatment plant. The municipalities can encourage energy efficiency improvements in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors that they serve.
Improving the energy efficiency of municipal water treatment and pumping systems
The water is high in usage and cost. One of the reasons is due to the energy used in extracting water from wells and rivers and treating it with chemicals, filters and aeration.
Maximpact can assess the efficiency of the water supply systems and advise how best solution to improve efficiency and reduce overall operational costs.
Assessment and recommendation of raw water treatment plants
Maximpact has developed a methodology (diagram below) for estimating the estimated electricity consumption of a water treatment plant.
Using such methodologies, we can accurately calculate the specific energy intensity of your water pumping and treatment plant, and make recommendations for improvement.
Methodology for estimating the estimated electricity
The selection of the pumping efficiency (step 3 in the methodology diagram above) is based on the typical measurements made concerning pumping specific energy indicators that will be measured for the pumps involved. The typical specific energy indicators for efficient municipal water pumps systems (kWh/MGD) are:
The specific energy indicators for a typical municipal water pumping in kWh per million gallons per day (kWh/MGD) are shown in the table above. These indicators will help you determine the relative efficiency of your system. To obtain an accurate figure detailed pump flow, pressure drop and electrical measurements would need to be completed.
Energy audit of wastewater and sewage treatment plant
Water and wastewater systems are significant energy consumers. In Europe, it is estimated that wastewater and sewage plant consumes an estimated 3%-4% of total electricity consumption. Water-energy issues are of growing importance in the context of water shortages, higher energy and material costs.
These issues combined with climate change put increasing pressure on local governments and municipalities to improve the energy efficiency of treatment plants and water usage. Maximpact can help municipalities by performing energy audits at the water and wastewater treatment facilities to help identify opportunities to save money, energy and water.
It is also interesting to note that the waste and water entering a waste treatment plant generally contains between two and ten times the amount of energy needed to treat it in terms of chemical, thermal energy and organic material. Therefore, it is possible to use that energy to turn a wastewater plant into an energy generation facility. There are a number of ways the energy in the waste can be utilised. These include using the high biological and oxygen demand in the waste to produce methane gas. This gas can be treated and used to run a reciprocating engine to drive an electrical generator and produce both electricity and heat, which in turn can power the waste treatment facility. The resulting savings that are made in imported grid electricity usually payback such investments in a couple of years.
Municipal energy savings initiatives – leading by example
The best way municipalities can promote the efficient use of energy and the green economy in transition is to lead by example. By ensuring that their own building is “green” and efficient and demonstrating a range of energy efficiency and renewable energy systems will encourage others to do the same.
Maximpact can provide detailed energy and renewable energy studies for municipal buildings. An objective, third-party energy audit is the first step in developing a municipality plan to reduce overall energy consumption.
Among the key benefits of detailed energy audit is an itemized list of all energy conservation measures (ECMs) and a two or three-year base-line of energy use so that energy efficiency projects can be measured and verified against a known pattern of energy use. The results of the improvements will provide valuable dissemination materials for the municipality energy efficiency drive for the industrial commercial and domestic sectors.
Municipal buildings, especially larger buildings, have unique challenges, especially with heating, cooling and air quality. One of the things that separate Maximpact from many others doing similar work is the enormous experience own specialist have gained over a period of 30 years in energy savings. We also help to design and implement the projects we recommend.
