CHP 11

Tapping the Energy Potential of Municipal
Wastewater Treatment: Anaerobic Digestion

and Combined Heat and Power in
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

by
Shutsu Chai Wong
Research Advisor Allexe Law-Flood
July2011
Special Thanks to
MassDEP TomBroderick,IntermountainCHP MickeyNowak,Superintendent,

TomBienkiewicz CenterAssociateDirector, UnitedWatercontractorat
MikeDibara SouthwestEnergyEfficiency SpringfieldRegionalWWTP
JohnFelix Project
DaveFerris DanO'Brien,DeputyDirectorof
DavidGanzi,BUintern ScottChristian,ADISystems Operations,DeerIslandWastewater
AnnLowery TreatmentPlant
DavidDuest,Managerofthe
ProcessControlGroup,Deer TonyOlivadesa,PlantManager,
NedBeecher,NorthEastBiosolids Island,MWRA RocklandWWTP
andResidualsAssociation
JoanFontaine,PrincipalProcess JasonTurgeon,EPAJohnRiccio,
DougBogardi,OperationsManager, Engineer,SEAConsultants Superintendent,ClintonWastewater

SpringfieldRegionalWWTP TreatmentPlant
VinnieFurtado,Superintendentof
GeorgeBrandt,SalesOperations theWastewaterDivision,New AlanWells,PrincipalEngineer,SEA
Manager,UTCPower BedfordWWTP Consultants
ChristineBrinker,Intermountain RichardHogan,ExecutiveDirector, WaterEnvironmentResearch

CHPCenterProgramAssociate, GreaterLawerenceWWTP Foundation(WERF)
SouthwestEnergyEfficiencyProject
BekaKosanovic,CoDirectorfor MarkYoung,ExecutiveDirector,
TechnicalAssistance,Northeast LowellRegionalWWTP
CHPApplicationCenter

Tapping the Energy Potential of Municipal Wastewater Treatment:

Anaerobic Digestion and Combined Heat and Power in
Massachusetts
TableofContents
Preface..........................................................................................................................................................7
TableofFigures.............................................................................................................................................6
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................8
Background...................................................................................................................................................8
WastewaterTreatmentandAnaerobicDigestion................................................................................9
CombinedHeatandPowerSystemsandAnaerobicDigestion..........................................................10
BenefitsofADandCHP.......................................................................................................................10
AHistoryofAnaerobicDigestionandCombinedHeatandPowerinMassachusetts................................13
StatusofWWTPsinMassachusetts&MACaseStudies............................................................................13
MWRADeerIslandWWTP..................................................................................................................13
GreaterLawrenceSanitaryDistrict.....................................................................................................14
ClintonandRocklandWWTPs.............................................................................................................15
Pittsfield,MA.......................................................................................................................................16
Fairhaven,MA.....................................................................................................................................18
OfflineDigesters..................................................................................................................................19
KnownChallengesandPotentialMechanismsforIntervention................................................................20
FinancialChallenges............................................................................................................................20
FundingOpportunities........................................................................................................................22
TechnicalChallengesandAdvances....................................................................................................23
OperationalChallengesandSupport..................................................................................................26
3
PoliticalChallenges.............................................................................................................................27
RegulatoryChallengesandOpportunities..........................................................................................28
NonMACaseStudies..................................................................................................................................28
EastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict,California.....................................................................................28
StrassinZillertal,Austria.....................................................................................................................31
EssexJunction,Vermont.....................................................................................................................31
GloversvilleJohnstown,NewYork.....................................................................................................32
Nashua,NewHampshire.....................................................................................................................34
Sheboygan,Wisconsin........................................................................................................................35
ElementsofSuccess....................................................................................................................................36
BiosolidsOpportunitiesinMA....................................................................................................................36
AddingAdditionalOrganicWasteStreamstoWWTPs.......................................................................37
TheMassachusettsContext........................................................................................................................38
ExistingStateGoals:Draft20102020SolidWasteMasterPlan,GreenhouseGasEmissions,
RenewableandAlternativePortfolioStandards................................................................................39
OtherMAConditions..........................................................................................................................41
ThePrivateSector...............................................................................................................................41
OtherLinkages....................................................................................................................................41
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................42
AppendixA:ResourcesforImplementation...............................................................................................43
StepsforAdoptingADandCHP..........................................................................................................43
PotentialADandCHPInitiativeStrategies.........................................................................................44
InnovativeWatertoEnergySolutions................................................................................................45
MappingMassachusetts:APotentialApproach.................................................................................46
AppendixB:AdditionalResources..............................................................................................................50
AppendixC:TablesofCaseStudies............................................................................................................52
AppendixD:AnaerobicDigestionSystems.................................................................................................56
TechnologicalAdvancesinAD............................................................................................................57
AppendixE:CombinedHeatandPowerSystemTypes..............................................................................59
TechnologicalAdvancesinCHP..........................................................................................................61
TableofFigures
Figure1:PittsfieldFinancialAnaylsisonCashFlowBasis...........................................................................17
Figure2:PaybackAnalysisfromFairhaven'sFeasibilityStudybyBrown&Caldwell.................................19
Figure3:MAWWTPswithunused,existingdigesters...............................................................................20
Figure4:EBMUD'sFoodScrapsProcessingSystem...................................................................................29
Figure5:FoodWastevs.WastewaterSolidsComparison.........................................................................30
Figure6:JohnstownIndustrialParkandConnectionstotheWWTP.........................................................33
Figure7:20052006BiosolidsUse/DisposalinMA(drytons/year)...........................................................37
Figure8:MunicipalSolidWasteSenttoLandfill,2007..............................................................................38
Figure9:Draft20102020SolidWasteMasterPlanGoalsanditsRelevancetoADandCHP...................39
Figure10:TheDistributionofAnaerobicDigestersinMA.........................................................................47
Figure11:TheDistributionofAnaerobicDigestersandFoodWasteGeneratorsinMA...........................48
Figure12:TheDistributionofOrganicWasteandAnaerobicDigestersinMA..........................................49
Preface
Withrecognitionofthenexusbetweenenergyandtheenvironmentandarevitalizedeffortto
proactivelyseekopportunitiestoreducegreenhousegasemissions,MassDEPtookacloserlookatits
regulatedentitiestoidentifyopportunitiestopromoteenergyefficiencyandrenewableenergy.
Wastewatertreatmentplants(WWTPs)alongwithdrinkingwaterfacilitieswereconsideredgood
candidatesduetothevastamountofenergyinvolved.WWTPsrangefromsmallprivatelyowned
facilitiestreatingsanitarywastewaterfromahousingdevelopmenttolargeregionalfacilitiestreating
millionsofgallonsadayofsanitaryandindustrialwastewater.Incooperationwithlocalandfederal
authorities,MassDEPregulatesmanytypesofwastewatertreatmentplantswhichoftenrequire
significantenergytooperateandcanberesponsibleforalargepercentageofamunicipalsenergy
costs.
TheMassachusettsEnergyManagementPilotforDrinkingWaterandWastewaterTreatmentFacilities
wasanopportunityforMassDEPandlocalstrategicpartnerstoguidefacilitiesthroughanassessmentof
theircurrentenergyperformance,conductenergyaudits,andassessrenewableenergygeneration
potential.Theresultsofthispilotincludedseveralrecommendations,oneofwhichwastoexplore
biogaspotentialatpubliclyownedwastewatertreatmentfacilities.
ThroughassistancefromtheMassDEPInternshipProgram,researchbeganbylookingatbiogasusageat
WWTPsinMassachusetts.Thesynthesisoftheresearchdataandthedevelopmentofthisfinalreport
wouldnothavebeenpossiblewithouttheassistanceofShutsuChaiWong,agraduateinternfrom
MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology(MIT),whosehardworkanddedicationtothisresearchwas
unmatchedandoutstanding.
ResearchforthisreportbeganinMassachusettsyetthelimitedcasestudiesavailablesoonledusto
extendourresearchbeyondtheMassachusettsborder.Itisourhopethatmunicipalities,wastewater
treatmentoperators,andothersinvolvedinthetreatmentofwastewaterwillbeabletousethis
researchandtheresourcesprovidedtofurtherexplorethepotentialofbiogasasaviablerenewable
energysourcefortheirfacilities.
AllexeLawFlood,
CommissionersOffice,
MassDEP
Introduction
Throughaprocesscalledanaerobicdigestion(AD),organicsolidscanbebrokendowntoproduce
biogas,amethanerichbyproductthatisusableforenergygeneration.Whenappliedatmunicipal
wastewatertreatmentfacilities,anexistingwastestreamcanbeconvertedintorenewableenergy
throughacombinedheatandpowersystem(CHP).Ifadditionalorganicwastestreamsaredivertedto
thesefacilitiestosupplementmunicipalwastewatersolids,evengreaterefficienciesandenergy
potentialcanbeattainedforenergygenerationonsiteandresaletothegrid.Suchaprogramleadsto
environmentalbenefitsfrommethanecapture,renewableenergygeneration,andorganicwaste
volumereduction.Furthermore,facilitiescanreducetheiroperationalcostsassociatedwithenergy
consumptionandwastedisposalwhilegeneratingrevenuefromprocessingadditionalwastestreams.
Thispaperestablishesthemeritsandbenefitsofthesetechnologies,theexistingconditionsatstate
wastewatertreatmentplants(WWTPs)andthepotentialforarenewableenergystrategythatfocuses
onWWTPsasresourcerecoverycenters.
Background
Wastewatertreatmentplants(WWTPs)presentanuntappedsourceofrenewableenergy.Withinthe
millionsofgallonsofwastewaterthatpassthroughtheseplantsinanygivendayarehundredsoftonsof
biosolids.Whenanaerobicallydigested,thosebiosolidsgeneratebiogaswhichcanbeanywherefrom
60to70percentmethane.(Naturalgasthatistypicallypurchasedfromthegridforuseonsiteis
methane.)Ifcaptured,thatbiogascanfuelanonsitecombinedheatandpowergenerationsystem,
thus,creatingarenewableenergysource.Infact,containedwithinthewastewateristentimesmore
energythanisnecessarytotreatthatwater.1AsofJune2011,onlysixof133municipalWWTPsin
Massachusettsutilizeanaerobicdigestion,andofthosesix,onlythreeareusingorintheprocessof
installingaCHPsystemtogeneraterenewableenergyonsite.
Inadditiontotheenvironmentalbenefitofrenewableenergy,onsitegenerationalsohaseconomic
incentives.Whereenergycanbecapturedfromexistingbyproductssuchassludge,lessenergymustbe
purchasedfromthegridandlesssludgemustbetransportedforprocessingoffsite(eitherforland
application,toalandfillortoanothercompanyforfurtherprocessing).Onsiteenergygenerationalso
promotesenergyindependenceandhelpstoinsulatemunicipalplantsfromelectricityandgasprice
fluctuations.Atpresent,thecostofwastewaterandwaterutilitiesaregenerally3060percentofa
citysenergybill2,makingiteconomicallyadvantageousformunicipalitiestoadoptthesetechnologiesto
minimizetheimpactoftheseutilitiesontheirlimitedbudgets.
1
SustainableTreatment:BestPracticesfromStrassinZillertalWastewaterTreatmentPlant.WaterEnvironment
ResearchFoundation.March2010.
2
EnsuringaSustainableFuture:AnEnergyManagementGuidebookforWastewaterandWaterUtilities.Office
ofWatewaterManagementoftheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencywiththeGlobalEnvironmentand
TechnologyFoundation.January2008.
8
Treatingmillionsofgallonsofwastewatercontainingbiosolids,theseMassachusettsWWTPsare
processingapotentialfueleveryday,andmoreoftenthannot,thatfuelsimplypassesthroughtheplant
andgoestolandfill.Thisstudyaimstoencouragetheinstallationofsystemsthatcanharnessthat
energyforproductiveuseinsteadofallowingittogotowaste.
WastewaterTreatmentandAnaerobicDigestion
Thetypicalwastewatertreatmentprocessbeginswiththepipingofwaterfromthesewersystemtothe
treatmentplant.There,settlingandthickeningprocessesremovemud,gritandwater,creatinga
dewateredsludge.Thatremainingsludgeandwatermixtureisthentreatedtoremovechemicals
(somefacilitiesmayuseadvancedtreatmentprocesses)andissubsequentlypreparedfortransportation
toanoffsitelandfill,incinerator,orcomposter.Alternatively,thatsludgecanalsobestabilizedand
preparedforsoilamendmentandlandapplication.
Ifadded,theprocessofADwouldfollowthesettlingandthickeningstepsandcouldserveasasludge
stabilizationmethod.WithAD,sludgeisinsteadpipedintodigesterswhere,intheabsenceofoxygen
andwithconstantmixingandheating,naturallyoccurringmicroorganismsbreakdownwastesolids,
producingmethane,carbondioxideandseveralothertracegasesintheprocess.Duetoitshigh
methaneconcentrationof60to70percent,3thatgas,oftencalledbiogas,canbecapturedandflaredor
productivelyusedforenergygeneration.Toharnesstheenergycontainedinbiogas,thegascanbe
cleaned,compressedandburnedinaboiler,generatingheatformaintainingdigestertemperaturesand
onsiteheating.InconjunctionwithaCHPsystem,thegascanalsobeusedtoproduceelectricity.
ADisnotexclusivetoWWTPsandcanbeusedinagriculturalsettings,withindustrialorganicwastes,
sourceseparatedorganics,andforotherpreandpostconsumerfoodwastes.ADhaspotentialbeyond
theimmediateapplicationdiscussedhere,anditisworthnotingthattheadditionoffoodwastes,
whetherataWWTPoratsomeothertreatmentfacility,canincreasetheproductivityofdigestion
becauseofthehighorganicconcentrations.Infact,inMassachusetts,severaldairyfarms,alsoknown
astheMassachusettsDairyEnergygroup,arecollaboratingtoadopttheuseofADandCHPtomanage
manureanddairyprocessingwastes.4ThegroupisawaitingapprovalfromtheMassachuetts
DepartmentofAgriculturalResourcestousetheADeffluentasfertilizer.5Furthermore,atthe
Fairhaven,MAWWTP,theupcomingplantupgradeswentsofarastoconsidertheincorporationofsolid
foodwastesintothewastewaterstreaminadditiontofats,oilsandgrease(FOG).Unfortunately,the
technologyforpulpingandslurryingpostconsumerwastesiscurrentlydesignedformuchhigher
volumesandhasyettobescaleddown;consequently,thecostoftheequipmentiscurrently
3
AnaerobicDigestion.AgSTAR,anEPAPartnershipProgram.Web.
<http://www.epa.gov/agstar/anaerobic/index.html>.AccessedFebruary2,2011.
4
MoreabouttheprojectontheMassachusettsTechnologyCollaborativewebsite,includingacopyofthe
feasibilityreport:http://www.masstech.org/project_detail.cfm?ProjSeq=901
5
MeetingwithBureauofWastePrevention.June1,2010.
prohibitive.6(Thecurrentsizeofthetechnologysuggeststhatregionalfoodwastesolutionsmaybe
moreeconomicallyviableatthemoment.)Furthermore,theprocessofslurryingthefood7isconsidered
solidwastemanagementandwouldrequireadditionalpermittingandsitereassignment.TheWWTP
wasultimatelyunabletoconsidertheintroductionofthisnewwastestreamtotheirstateoftheart
wastewatertreatmentsystem.
CombinedHeatandPowerSystemsandAnaerobicDigestion
TheunderlyingconceptofCHPsystemsistheuseofasinglefuelfortheproductionofelectricityand
heat,wherethewasteheatfromelectricitygenerationisrecoveredforproductiveuse.8Whencoupled
withAD,biogasgeneratedbytheADprocessfuelstheCHPsystem.ThetypesofCHPsystemsarevaried
andhavedifferentbenefitsandchallengesassociatedwitheachone.Thefivetypestypicallyconsidered
are:gasturbines,microturbines,steamturbines,reciprocatingenginesandfuelcells.9Theuseof
Stirlingengineshasalsoemergedbutisrelativelynewanduntested.Additionaldetailregardingthe
CHPsystemtypesareinAppendixE.
BenefitsofADandCHP
WhilethisstudyhasalludedtomanyofthebenefitsofADandCHP,adeeperdiscussionofeachandits
directimpactonWWTPoperationareworthexploringingreaterdetail.TheprimarybenefitofusingAD
istheproductionofbiogas.Aspreviouslydiscussed,themethanecontentofbiogascanbeproductively
usedinconjunctionwithoneofmanytypesofCHPsystemstoproducerenewableenergythroughheat
andelectricityproduction.ThisprocessprovidesawholehostofsecondarybenefitsfortheWWTPand
theenvironment.Asmanyofthebenefitslistedabovearealsoassociatedwithsomelevelofcost
savings,thesumtotalsavingsisasignificantcontributortothecasefortheadoptionofADandCHP.
OneofthemostnoticeablebenefitsofusingADandCHPonsiteataWWTPistheenergydemand
reductionoftheplant.Byproducingheatandelectricityonsiteusingthewastewaterthattheplant
alreadytreats,netoperationcostsarereduced;theamountofenergythattheplantmustpurchase
fromthegridissmaller,andthus,theirenergybillissmaller.Reducingthatrelianceonoffsiteenergy
suppliesinsulatestheplantfromenergypricefluctuations;Sheboygan,Wisconsinsenergyprices
6
PersonalCommunicationwithBillFitzgeraldfromFairhavenWWTPbyShutsuWong.July2,2010.
7
FoodneedstobeslurriedbeforeitcanbefedtoadigesterforAD;foodwasteisnotasprocessedasbiosolids
thathavepassedthroughthehumanbodyoragriculturalanimals.WastessuchasFOGsanddairyandbeverage
processingwastesarealreadyinsmallenoughparticlesfordirectfeeding,makingthemsimplerforadditionto
digesters.
8
BasicInformation.U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,CombinedHeatandPowerPartnership.Accessed
June6,2010fromhttp://www.epa.gov/chp/basic/index.html.
9
10
increasedroseover70percentoversixyears,anditsuseofADandCHPreducedtheimpactofthose
increasesonthefacility(seecasestudyofSheboygan,WI).Inaddition,sincenetoperationcostsare
reduced,theratepayeralsoexperienceslowerprices.IntheVillageofEssexJunctioninVermont,the
annualenergyusagewasreducedbymorethanathirdthroughtheadditionofaCHPsystem(seecase
studyofVillageofEssexJunction,VT).10
Morespecifically,ADandCHPtogetherandADalonecangenerateusefulheatandelectricityinseveral
ways.InthecaseoftheClintonWWTP,a3.0milliongallonsperday(MGD)designflowfacilityin
Massachusetts,biogasproductionfromADisfedintoadualboilerthatproducesheattomaintain
digestergastemperatures.11Inthewintertime,thatgasalsoheatsbuildingsonsite.Allofthedigester
gasisconsumedthroughthesetwoprocessesduringthewinter,andconsequently,noCHPsystemis
installedthere.InlargersystemswhereCHPisaviableoption,additionalelectricitycanbegenerated
throughdigestergastopowerotherprocessesonsite.
AnotherbenefitofADisthereductionofsludgevolumesthatmustbetransportedoffsitetoalandfill,
fordirectlandapplication,forincinerationorforfurtherprocessingtoproduceproductssuchas
fertilizer.ADsignificantlyreducessludgevolumes;attheMassachusettsWaterResourceAuthority
(MWRA)treatmentplantatDeerIsland,totalsolidsarereducedby55percentduringthedigestion
process.12At$350perdrytonandaproductionrateof105tonsperdayatDeerIslandafterAD,the
savingsareontheorderoftensofthousands.13GrantedthatDeerIslandisthelargestplantin
Massachusetts,theexperienceatthisWWTPdemonstratesthatsavingsinsludgevolumereduction
alonecanbesignificant.Thecostsoftransportingthesludgeaswellasthetippingfeesarereduced.
Reducedvolumesalsohasthepotentialtoimpacttheamountoftrucktrafficthroughnearby
communities,improvingtherelationshipofthesefacilitieswiththeirneighbors.ForNashua,NH,that
meantareductionfrom50truckloadsaweekto20withtheadditionofADtotheirWWTP(seecase
studyofNashua,NH).
BeyondtheusefulnessofthisenergyattheWWTPitself,distributedenergygenerationalsohasbenefits
forthegreatercommunity.WWTPshavealsoemployedCHPsystemsinresponsetoinconsistentpower
suppliesandanticipatedpoweroutagesorshortages.InPortland,Oregon,extendedpoweroutagesin
Decemberof1995andFebruaryof1996motivatedtheColumbiaBoulevardWWTPtoinstallits200kW
fuelcellsystem;thissystemservedasasecondarypowersupply,abackupsystemforessential
10
Eaton,Gillian,Jutras,JamesL.TurningMethaneintoMoney:CostEffectiveMethaneCoGenerationUsing
MicroturbinesataSmallWastewaterPlant.
11
PersonalcommunicationwithJohnRiccioatClintonWWTPbyShutsuWongonJune15,2010.
12
PersonalcommunicationwithDavidDuest,MWRADeerIslandWWTPmanager,byShutsuWongonMarch4,
2010.
13
PersonalcommunicationwithDavidDuest,MWRADeerIslandWWTPmanager,byShutsuWongonMarch4,
2010.
11
communicationsandcontrolofremotefacilitiesduringpoweroutages.14InNewYorkCity,anticipated
powershortagesinAugust2000forthesummerof2001triggeredafasttrackprocessforthesiting,
designandinstallationofeightfuelcellunits.15Inadditiontoinsulatingtheplantsfromthoseshortages
thefollowingsummer,reducingtheirdemandonthegridalsohelpedtoinsulatethecityfromthe
summertimeshortagesamidstrecordheat.16DuringtheNortheastBlackoutinAugust2003and
followingtheterroristattacksinSeptember2001,theseplantshelpedtomeetelectricitydemandsagain
andstabilizethetransmissionsystem,furtherdemonstratingtheirvaluetotheircommunity,cityand
state.17
Theenvironmentalbenefit,whichplantsthemselvesmaynotbeabletoassess,arisesfromthediversion
ofmethaneforproductiveuse.Asthemicroorganismsarenaturallyoccurringinwastewater,methane
isalsonaturallyproducedinwastewater;insteadofallowingthattoescapeintotheenvironment,itis
capturedforreuse.Furthermore,thecarbondioxideemissionsproducedbypowerplantsgenerating
theelectricityforusebyWWTPswillalsobereduced,asplantswillpurchaselessenergyfromthose
sources.Inaddition,theemissionsassociatedwithsludgetransportwillalsobediminishedbythetotal
volumereductionofsludgeonsitepriortoremoval.Moreover,whileADmayproducecarbondioxide
asabyproduct,methanehasbeenestimatedtobe20timesmoreeffectiveattrappingheatinthe
atmospherethancarbondioxide.18Thus,theactivecaptureanduseofmethanefromthebreakdownof
organicmaterialsisespeciallyimportantasapartofanygreenhousegasemissionreductionsprogram
andcanplayasignificantroleinlimitingglobalwarming.Thissamelogicisthebasisformethane
captureinlandfillswhichalreadyoccursinMassachusetts,butcomparatively,methanecapturethrough
ADismorecontrolledandeffectiveandthereforemoreenvironmentallybeneficial.19
14
ColumbiaBoulevardWastewaterTreatmentPlant:320kWFuelCellandMicroturbinePowerPlants.CHPCase
StudiesinthePacificNorthwest,U.S.DepartmentofEnergyEnergyEfficiencyandRenewableEnergy.
15
PowerNow!Small,CleanPlants.NewYorkPowerAuthority.Web.July7,2010.
<http://www.nypa.gov/wwwnypagov/wwwroot/facilities/powernow.htm>.
16
17
18
ClimateChange:Methane.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.Web.AccessedJanuary31,2011.
<http://www.epa.gov/outreach/>.
19
Currentdiscussionsaroundlandfillgascaptureefficiencydemonstratethatthelackofcontrolovermethane
emissionsandthecaptureofgasbyotherlandfillmaterialsreducetheenergycapturepotential.(SeeLandfillGas
CollectionSystemEfficiencies.MSWManagement:TheJournalforMunicipalSolidWasteProfessionals.July1,
2008.Web.<http://www.mswmanagement.com/webarticles/landfillgascollection.aspx>.AccessedFebruary2,
2011.)
12
AHistoryofAnaerobicDigestionandCombinedHeatandPower
inMassachusetts
WhileADisnotcurrentlyusedextensivelyinMassachusetts,ADwasusedatMAWWTPsasearlyasthe
1940s.IntheseearlydaysofADinMA,ADwasmostlyusedasawastestabilizationprocesswith
primarytreatment.Whensecondarytreatmentwasintroducedinthe1970sand1980sbecauseofthe
CleanWaterAct,challengesbegantoemergewithexistingADsystems.Processupsetsresultedfrom
differentsecondarysludgeandsupernatantcharacteristicsandodorcontrolbecamemoredifficult.
Consequently,manyfacilitiesoptedfordifferentmethodsofsludgemanagementsuchascomposting,
incinerationandlandfilling.TheseprocessupsetsalsoledtoanegativeperceptionofADfor
wastewatertreatment,whichisabarriertoadoptioninthepresentdaydespitetechnologicaland
processadvances.
Despitethehistoricalchallenges,therehasbeenrenewedinterestinADbecauseofitspotentialfor
energyrecovery,greenhousegasreduction,anddiversionoforganicwastesfromlandfills.Inthelast3
5years,interesthasemergedfromtheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)andtheDepartmentof
Energy(DOE),andthisrenewedinteresthasledtonewideas,newinitiativesandmarketgrowthfor
thesetechnologies.
Thus,whiletheliteraturemaystillbelacking,20thetechnologiesarematuringandthenumberofcase
studiesfromacrossthenationandaroundtheglobedemonstratingfinancialandenvironmental
benefitsandtechnicalfeasibilityaregrowing.EvenwithinthestateofMassachusetts,successstories
areemerging.
StatusofWWTPsinMassachusetts&MACaseStudies
InMassachusetts,thereare133WWTPS,andofthose,onlysixWWTPsthatareemployingorareinthe
processofinstallingADattheirfacilities.Ofthesesix,threehaveorwillhaveCHPsystemstomaximize
theenergypotentialofthebiogasthatisproducedfromtheADprocess.Becauseofitshistoricalusein
MA,thestatealsohaseightfacilitieswithunusedexistingdigestersinvariousconditions.Eachofthese
casesprovidesexamplesofeffectiveimplementation,lessonslearnedandopportunitiesforgrowth,but
thesmallproportionofallWWTPsthathaveemployedthesetechnologiesnecessitatesamoredetailed
discussionoftheregionalandhistoricalchallenges.
MWRADeerIslandWWTP
FacilityFacts
DesignFlow 1313MGD
AverageFlow 365MGD
20
PersonalCommunicationwithJimJutrasoftheEssexJunctionWWTPbyShutsuWongonJune29,2010.
13
CHPSystemType 3.28MWsteamturbinegenerator
PercentofTotalEnergyNeeds 17.7%
GeneratedOnSite
DeerIslandsiconiceggshapeddigestersystemwasbuiltbetween1995and1998througha
combinationofbondsandfederalandstateassistance,drivenbyeffortstoimprovethewaterqualityof
theBostonHarbor.Eachofthetwelvedigestershasacapacityofthreemilliongallons.Onaverage,
DeerIslandprocesseswastewateratlessthanathirdofitstotalcapacity(365MGDaverageflow,1313
MGDdesignflow),withvolumespeakingduringlargestormevents.
Thisfacilitydemonstratesthatsignificantsavingsareavailablefromreduceddisposalcostsalonewhen
ADisapplied.AtDeerIsland,given65percentreductionsinvolatilesolids,55percentreductionsof
totalsolidsanddisposalcostsof$350perton,yearlysavingsmaybeashighas$10million.
Inadditiontothetwelvedigesters,DeerIslandalsohasa3.28megawatt(MW)steamturbinegenerator.
Basedonthe2010fiscalyear(FY2010)operations,thefacilityconsumed166,799MWandgenerated
40,127MW.21Thus,atpresent,thisfacilityisgeneratingalittleover24percentofitsenergyneedson
sitethroughthisCHPsystem.InFY2010,theaveragecostperkWhwasreportedas$0.1042722,which
wouldyieldacostsavingsofapproximately$4.2millionfortheyearfromonsiteenergygeneration.If
thisfacilityweretoutilizeagreaterproportionofitsdigestercapacitythroughtheadditionofother
wastestreams,DeerIslandcouldboostitsonsiteenergygenerationpotentialandachieveevengreater
costsavings.
GreaterLawrenceSanitaryDistrict
FacilityFacts
DesignFlow 52MGD
AverageFlow 31MGD
CHPSystemType N/A
PercentofTotalEnergyNeeds N/A
GeneratedOnSite
ThefacilityfortheGreaterLawrenceSanitaryDistrict(GLSD)currentlyemploysanaerobicdigestionand
utilizesthegastopowertheirpelletizationprocess.Thissystemwasbuiltin2002withthreedigesters
21
DeerIslandWastewaterTreatmentPlantFY2010KeyOperationsData.PDFfileprovidedbyfacilityonMarch
4,2010.
22
DeerIslandWastewaterTreatmentPlantFY2010KeyOperationsData.PDFfileprovidedbyfacilityonMarch
4,2010.
14
fora4.2milliongallonstotalcapacity.ThedesignflowoftheWWTPis52MGD,andtheaverageflowis
31MGD.Morespecifically,thedigestergasisusedtomaintaindigestertemperaturesandforonsite
sludgedryingandpelletizing;theexcessiscurrentlyflared,butaboilersystemforcapturingtheexcess
iscurrentlybeingexploredforheatingtheadministrativebuildingsinthewinter.
GLSDhasdevelopedaneffectivepublicprivatepartnershipwiththeNewEnglandFertilizerCompany
(NEFCO);whileGLSDmaintainsthewastewatertreatmentanddigesterprocesses,NEFCOoperatesand
maintainsthepelletizationprocessandmanagesthesaleofthepelletproductthatisusedforland
application.Attheoutsetofthepartnership,NEFCOalsodesignedandconstructedthepelletization
facilitiesthattheynowownandoperate.23Thistypeofpartnershipcontractingliftsaportionofthe
initialcostburdenfromthemunicipality,makingtheprojectmorefinanciallyandtechnicallyfeasible.
ClintonandRocklandWWTPs
TheClintonandRocklandfacilitiesinMAaretwosmallerfacilitiesthatemployanaerobicdigestion
withoutCHPsystems.Thebiogasthatisproducedisusedtomaintaindigestertemperatures,butdueto
thesizeofthesystems,thereisinsufficientgastomakeCHPcosteffective;paybackestimatesarelong
andthereforenotattractive.24Thesetypesoffacilitieswouldbegoodcandidatesforadditional
feedstocksthatwouldincreasetheirmethaneproductivity,makingCHPsystemsmoreeconomically
viable.
FacilityFactsClintonWWTP
DesignFlow 3.01MGD
AverageFlow 2.4MGD
CHPSystemType N/A
GeneratedOnSite
TheClintonWWTPisanMWRAfacility,anditcurrentlyusesthebiogasindualboilerstomaintain
digestertemperatures.Clintonprocesses2.4MGDonaverageandhasadesignflowof3.01MGD.
Basedontheestimatesofbiogasvolumesthatcouldbeproducedfromitsaverageflow,a2008
feasibilitystudyconcludedthatpaybackforanewCHPsystemwouldhavea2527yearpaybackand
wasthereforenotrecommendedforthefacility.25Whiletheremaybeexcessbiogasatthefacility
23
2010NorthEastResidualsandBiosolidsConference:GreaterLawrenceSanitaryDistrictPlantTour.November9,
2010.
24
PersonalcommunicationwithJohnRiccioatClintonWWTPbyShutsuWong.June15,2010.
25
MassachusettsWaterResourcesAuthority:ClintonWastewaterTreatmentPlantMicroturbineFeasibility
Assessment.GreenInternationalAffiliates,Inc.ConsultingEngineersandCDM.October2008.
15
duringthesummermonths,theflowsareinadequatetoproducesufficientbiogastomaintainthe
boilersaloneduringthewintermonths.26Thus,savingswouldonlybeattainedduringthewarmer
monthswhenthereisexcessbiogasforelectricitygeneration,drawingoutthepaybackperiod.
RocklandFacilityFacts
DesignFlow 2.5MGD
AverageFlow 2.5MGD
CHPSystemType N/A
GeneratedOnSite
TheRocklandWWTPalsousesboilerstoheatitsdigesters.Itsdesignflowis2.5MGDandhasaaverage
flowof2.5MGD.Inthiscase,lowgasproductionresultsfromthelowbiosolidsconcentrationof
wastewaterarrivingatthefacility;duetoproblemswithinflowandinfiltrationwithinthewastewater
collectionsystem,thewastewaterisquitedilute.27Again,thesmallsizeofthefacilityandinsufficient
quantitiesofbiogaslimittheeconomicviabilityofinstallingaCHPsystem.
Pittsfield,MA
FacilityFacts
DesignFlow 17MGD
AverageFlow 12MGD
CHPSystemType 3x65kWmicroturbines
PercentofTotalEnergyNeeds 29%
GeneratedOnSite
NextisacasestudyinPittsfield,MA,madepossiblethroughaMassachusettsTechnologyCollaborative
(nowtheCleanEnergyCenter)grantforitsinitialfeasibilitystudy(approximately$40,000)and$16
millioninstimulusgrantsthroughtheCleanWaterStateRevolvingFund(SRF),where$1.67millionwent
26
PersonalcommunicationwithJohnRiccioatClintonWWTPbyShutsuWong.June15,2010.
27
PersonalcommunicationwithTonyOlivadesaatRocklandWWTPbyShutsuWong.June21,2010.
16
towardstheADandCHPsystem.28Thisfundingenabledanupgradeofitsexistingdigestersandthe
installationofanewCHPsystem,three65kWmicroturbines.
WiththeinstallationofthenewCHPsystem,thefacilityisanticipatingthat29percentofitstotalenergy
needscanbegeneratedonsite.29Throughitsfeasibilitystudyandfunding,PittsfieldworkedwithSEA
consultantstoalsoexplorethepotentialofincorporatingfatsoilsandgrease(FOG)intoitssystemto
maximizebiogasandenergyproduction.
Mostnotableaboutthisproject,theprojectionsforthisprojectdemonstratethepotentialforpositive
cashflowforthefacilityeveninthefirstyear.Pittsfieldinvested$1.67millioninSRFfundingforthe
project.Withanestimatedenergysavingsof$206,000eachyear,30simplepaybackwouldoccurin8
years.Lookingonacashflowbasis,assumingatenyearloanandincorporatingtheiranticipated
renewableenergycredits,Pittsfieldhasover$66,000incashflowwithinthefirstyear.(Seecalculations
below.)Thesecashflowsdonotevenincorporateothercostssavingssuchasreducedsludgedisposal
costs.Thatsaid,ADandCHPhasthepotentialtohelpmunicipalitieswiththeirbottomlinesandcan
makeevenmoresenseifotherorganicwastestreamsareconsideredtohelpboostenergygeneration!
Figure 1: Pittsfield Financial Anaylsis on Cash Flow Basis

AnaerobicDigestionUpgradeandNewMicroturbines(195kW)
Investment:$1.67M
Estimatedannualenergysavings:$206,000(29%)
SimplePayback:8.0years
Fromacashflowperspective:
Applyannualenergysavingstopayforloandebt
(assumea10yearloanwitha2%and3%annualriseinelectricitycosts,
annualloanpayment:$184,395)
PotentialRenewableEnergyCredit(REC)Revenue:$45,00031
28
MassachusettsEnergyManagementPilot:PittsfieldWastewaterTreatmentFacility.Massachusetts
DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection.Web.
http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/wastewater/empilot.htm#pitt>.AccessedAugust12,2010.
29
30
31
CityofPittsfield:FeasibilityStudyWastewaterTreatmentPlant.April1,2008.SEAConsultants,Inc.
17
AnnualEnergySavings+RECRevenueAnnualLoanPayment=$66,605PositiveCashFlow!
$206,000 $45,000 $184,395
Withlowinterestandnointerestloansavailablethroughthestaterevolvingfunds,theeconomicsof
adoptingADandCHPworkinthefavorofmunicipalities.WithwaterutilitiesandWWTPsaccounting
for3060percentofamunicipalitysenergybill,thepotentialforpositivecashflowfromaWWTP
makesADandCHPevenmorefinanciallyattractive.32
Fairhaven,MA
FacilityFacts
DesignFlow 5MGD
AverageFlow 2.7MGD
CHPSystemType 1x110kW,1x64kWinternalcombustionengines
PercentofTotalEnergyNeeds 26%(initially),
GeneratedOnSite 73%(afterphaseinofotherorganicwaste)
TotalAD+CHPCost $7.2M
In2011,thecityofFairhavenwillhavethestatesnewestADandCHPsystematamunicipalWWTP.
UnlikePittsfield,Fairhavendidnothaveexistingdigesterstoupgrade;thisprojectinvolvedthe
installationofcompletelynewdigesters.Asaconsequence,theoverallprojectwasmorecostly.
Throughexaminingthefinancialsofthisproject,severalimportantfactorsemergeregardingthe
adoptionprocessofADandCHPatmunicipalfacilities.
First,Fairhavensexperiencedemonstratedtheimportanceoffeasibilitystudiesinachievingcommunity
acceptanceofthenewdigestersandCHPsystems.33Thestudyconvincedcommunitymembersthatthe
incorporationofFOGsintothefeedstockwasawinwinsituation,wheretheadditionenhancedthe
methaneproductionpotentialofthedigestersystemwhileminimizingbackupsinthewastewater
collectionsystemfromcloggedgreasetraps.34Projectacceptancebythecommunityasaresultofthe
feasibilitystudyconfirmedtheimportanceoffeasibilitystudiesinthepublicprocess.
Second,Fairhavensexperiencedemonstratedtheimpactfinancialincentivescanhave.Thefollowing
tableisextractedfromthefeasibilitystudyconductedbyBrownandCaldwellforFairhaven,
32
EnsuringaSustainableFuture:AnEnergyManagementGuidebookforWastewaterandWaterUtilities.Office
ofWatewaterManagementoftheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencywiththeGlobalEnvironmentand
TechnologyFoundation.January2008.
33
PersonalCommunicationwithBillFitzgeraldoftheFairhavenWWTPbyShutsuWong.October4,2010.
34
PersonalCommunicationwithBillFitzgeraldoftheFairhavenWWTPbyShutsuWong.October4,2010.
18
demonstratingtheimpactoftheGreenInfrastructureSRFGrantonthepaybackforthenewADandCHP
system:
Figure 2: Payback Analysis from Fairhaven's Feasibility Study by Brown & Caldwell
Closerexaminationoftheprojectedpaybackscheduleshowsthat,withnormalSRFfunding,theproject
wouldhavebrokenevenin15years,whichisconsideredalongtimeforamunicipalproject.In
contrast,giventhe$7.9MGreenInfrastructureGrant,thefacilitywillbeabletohavepositivecashflows
fromtheoutsetoftheproject.Whilethisisaspecialcase,Fairhavensfinancialprojectionsshowusthe
impactoffinancialincentivestotransformpaybackschedulesandtomaketheseprojectsmore
appealingformunicipalities.Financialincentivesdonotneedtocovertheentirecostofaproject;
attractivenessofADandCHPcanbeimprovedbysimplyshorteningpaybacktoamorereasonabletime
period.Thus,thefinancialincentivehadadramaticimpactonthepaybackperiod,whichaffectedthe
acceptabilityoftheprojectforthecommunityandmunicipality.
OfflineDigesters
Andfinally,thisseriesofMAfacilitiesconcludeswiththelistoffacilitiesthathavebeenidentifiedas
havingolddigestersthatarenotinuse.Theyvaryintheirlevelofconnectednessandusabilitytothe
facilities,rangingfromcompletelydisconnectedandovergrowntobeingusedforsludgestorage.The
followingtablesummarizesthestatusoftheseWWTPs:
19
Figure 3: MA WWTPs with unused, existing digesters35

Average DesignFlow
FacilityName
Flow(MGD) (MGD)
SpringfieldRegionalWastewaterTreatmentSystem 43 67
BrocktonWastewaterTreatmentPlant 17 18
LeominsterWastewaterTreatmentPlant 56 9.3
AttleboroWastewaterTreatmentPlant 4 8.6
NorthamptonWastewaterTreatmentFacility 3.54.0 8.6
NewburyportWastewaterPollutionControlFacility 2.6 3.4
IpswichWastewaterTreatmentPlant 1.1 1.8
WareWastewaterTreatmentPlant 0.817 2
AlthoughthesefacilitiesmayrequiresignificantadaptationstoreinstateADandtoaddCHPsystems,
thesefacilitiescanbeopportunitiesforintervention.Withexistingspacededicatedtothesedigesters
andpotentialconnectionstothewastewatertreatmentprocess,thesefacilitiesmaybefavorable
startingpointsforanyeffortstoencourageADandCHPadoptioninthestate.
Giventhatofthe133facilitiesinMA,onlysixhaveorwillhaveAD,andofthosesix,onlyfourwillhave
CHPsystems,thestateofWWTPsbegsthequestionofwhysofewfacilitieshavethesetechnologies,
beyondthehistoricalchallengesandexperiences.
KnownChallengesandPotentialMechanismsforIntervention
WhileastrongcaseexistsfordevelopingawastetoenergystrategyforourstatebasedonADandCHP,
therearesomefinancial,technical,operational,politicalandregulatorychallengesandopportunities
thatmustbeaddressedtomakeanyprogrameffective.Thissectiongatherstheconcernsandobstacles
thatemergedthroughdiscussionswithstateWWTPswhilecouplingthemwithpotentialsolutions.
Practically,thissectionisanoverviewofnecessaryconsiderationswhendevelopingawastetoenergy
programatmunicipalWWTPs.
FinancialChallenges
Themostcommonlycitedchallengesarefinancial,whichincludeawiderangeofcostsfrompreliminary
assessmentstodesignandconstruction.Therearealsofinancingdecisionsthatmustbemade,andin
35
DatagatheredthroughpersonalcommunicationsbyShutsuWongwithMARegionalContacts:KevinBrander
(Northeast),PaulNietupski(West),RobertKimball(Central)andDavidBurns(Southeast).August2010through
November2010.
20
thecasethatfacilitiesgeneratesomuchenergytheycannotuseitallonsite,theywillneedhelptomake
interconnectiontothegridpossible.
Theinitialcapitalinvestmentfordigesters,pumpingmechanisms,piping,andenergygeneratorsare
high,makingthecostsprohibitive.Mostplantsandcities,particularlyinthecurrenteconomicclimate,
understandablyhavelimitedfundstoinvestinlargecapitalprojects.Inaddition,whenfundsare
available,newwastewatertreatmenttechnologiesarenotatthetopoftheprioritylist.Somecities
notedthatexistingregulations,particularlythoseforcombinedseweroverflows,takepriorityasthey
aremandatedwhiletakingadvantageofrenewableenergyisnot.Despitethesefinanciallimitations,
facilitiesandmunicipalitieshavefundingopportunitiesthatareoutsideofthetypicalfinancingstructure
oftheseWWTPs.Thesepotentialsourcescomefromvaryinglevelsofgovernmentandgroupsthatcan
enabledifferentstagesoftheplanningprocessforaWWTP.Thesestagesincludeinitialfacilityaudits,
feasibilityanalysesanddesignforconstruction.Someofthese,funds,particularlythoserelatedtothe
currenteconomicclimatesuchastheAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentAct(ARRA)36arespecificto
thetimeperiodandprovidesignificantfinancialsupportifplantschoosetocapitalizeontheimmediate
opportunities.
Inadditiontocapitalcosts,concernswereraisedabouteventualpayback.Arguably,thefutureis
uncertain,andthus,thethoughtofsuchalargecapitalinvestmentwithlongtermpaybackmaybea
difficultdecision.Nonetheless,energycostsareanticipatedtogrowwithtime,andalthoughthatisnot
100percentcertain,thereisreasonablecertaintythatthatpredictionwillholdtrue.Thecaseof
Sheboygan,WIconfirmshowenergycostscanindeedriseatdramaticrates,risingbetween70and100
percentbetween2002and2008.37
Notonlyarethecostsofenergyconsumptiononsitereduced,thecostsofsludgedisposalarealso
reduced.Thosecostsincludetransportoffsiteandpaymentstosomeoneelsetoeitherlandfillor
processthatsludgeforotherusessuchasfertilizer.Costreductions,particularlyinthisareaofsludge
disposal,arecertain.Disposinglesssludgecannotcostmorethandisposingmoresludge.Moreover,if
thatsludgehasaproductiveusesuchassoilamendingfollowingtheADstabilizationprocess,thesludge
couldbecomearevenuegeneratorasopposedtoanexpense.InthecaseoftheGreaterLawrence
SanitaryDistrict,thesludgeispelletizedandsoldasasoilamendmentwiththehelpofNEFCO,andthus,
tippingfeesfordisposalarenolongerneeded.
36
PatrickMurrayAdministrationreceives$185MinFederalRecoveryActFundsforWaterTreatmentProjects.
WebsiteoftheGovernorofMassachusetts.June15,2009.Web.June17,2010.
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3pressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Agov3&b=pressrelease&f=090615_water_t
reatment&csid=Agov3.
37
SeeSheboygan,WIWTTPcasestudy.
21
FundingOpportunities
Inaddition,despitethefinancialchallenges,thereareawholehostoffundingopportunitiesranging
fromleasestograntstorevenuestreamsthataredirectlygeneratedbytheadditionofADandCHPfor
biosolidsmanagement.Thesefundingopportunitiesincludemeanssuchas:stateandfederalgrants
andloans,privateandnonprofitgrants(e.g.NationalGrid),studygrants(e.g.researchfoundationslike
theWaterEnvironmentResearchFoundation),bonds,renewableenergycredits,andafacilitysown
expandedrevenuestreams(e.g.tippingfeesforreceivingindustrialfoodprocessingwastes).Although
lesstraditional,publicprivatepartnershipsarealsoopportunitiestoconsider.
InsituationswheretheinstallationofaCHPsystemmaynotbeeconomicallyfeasible,direct
connectionstothenaturalgaspipelinearealsoanoption.Ameresco,aFraminghambasedenergy
solutionsprovider,isonecompanythathelpscitiestomanageadirectconnectiontothenaturalgas
pipeline.ItsfirstcontracttomakethisconnectionwasforthecityofSanAntonioinTexas.Withinthe
contract,Amerescowillmanageeverystepoftheimplementationprocess,fromdesignandengineering
toowningandoperatingtheentiresystem.Amerescowillevenconditionthegasandmaintainthe
necessarypipelines.38Inthiscase,partnershipscanbeestablishedwithnaturalgassuppliers,wherethe
providermaysupplyaportionorevenallofthecapitalcosts.Whiletheplantmaynotreceiveasmuch
financialgainfromthissetup,itpresentsanalternativetoplant(orcity)fundedcapitalinvestments.
WhilehighcapitalcostscanbeprohibitiveforamunicipalWWTP,twootherpublicprivatemanagement
systemsareavailablethatcanminimizecostsbornebythemunicipalitywhilestillproviding
environmentalandfinancialbenefits.First,acontractorcanbeselectedtomanagetheoperationsof
theWWTPasisdoneinseveralofMAWWTPsalreadyincludingSpringfieldWWTPwithUnitedWater
andLynnWWTPwithVeoliaWater.Asaprofitmaximizingentity,theyareabletodothecostbenefit
analysesandmakethedecisionsthatwillmaximizetheirprofit.Ifcontractslastlongerthanpaybackfor
asystem(averagecontractsareforaround20years),thisrelationshipcouldresultincapitalinvestments
bythecontractorinADandCHP.Second,anoutsidecompanycanbecontractedtodevelopand
operatenewADandCHPsystems.ForexampleAlcorEnergySolutionswilldesign,install,operateand
maintainaCHPsystemforaWWTP,thusrequiringnocapitalinvestmentsandnoadditionaltrainingof
personnelfortheWWTP.39InthecasesofSheboyganwithAlliantEnergyandGreaterLawrencewith
NEFCO,asharingofthecostsandcapitalenabledtechnologicaladoptionatthesefacilities.40These
formsofperformancecontractingareavailabletofacilitiesthatchoosetoadoptADandCHPandthat
areopentopublicprivatepartnerships.
38
AmerescoExecutesHistoricRenewableEnergyContract.Ameresco.September11,2008.Web.February2,
2010.http://ameresco.com/release.asp?ID=180.
39
PersonalcommunicationwithTomBroderickofIntermountainCHPApplicationCenterbyShutsuWongonJune
17,2010.
40
SeeSheboygan,WIWTTPcasestudy.
22
TechnicalChallengesandAdvances
AsthehistoryofADdemonstrates,thereareclearlytechnicalchallengesthatmustbeovercomefor
thesesystemstoworkatWWTPs.Althoughthesechallengesmayseemdaunting,technological
advanceshaveaddressedmanyoftheseconcerns,includingthehistoricalchallengesfromthe70sand
80s.Asdigestertechnologieshavebeenusedforthelastthirtyyears,thissectionestablishesthestate
oftheartforADandCHPtodemonstratehowtechnologicaladvanceshavehelpedaddresssomeof
thoseissues.Whilesomeconcernsweretrulylimiting,otherscannowbeaddressed;aswithany
technology,withtime,constraintshavebeenmitigated,andthepossibilitieshavegrown.Where
challengesinmanagingsecondarysludgestemmedfromthedifferencesfromprimarysludge,processes
havenowbeenbetteradaptedtomanagesecondarysludgeanditsdistinctcharacteristics.Thissection
identifiesthosetechnicalobstaclesandthesolutionsthathaveemerged.Thisdiscussionwillenable
interestedpartiestoavoidsomeofthesesetbackswhilehelpingtohelpothersunderstandandtake
advantageoftheadvancesinthistechnologyandthebarriersthathavealreadybeenovercome.
Oneconcernisthatofodorcontrol.Forexample,attheNewBedfordWastewaterTreatmentPlant,
odorcontrolisanespeciallydominantconcernregardingthetreatmentprocessasawhole.Withnearly
50percentoftheindustriesfeedingwastewaterintothewastewaterstreamasfishprocessing
industries,theresultingwatercompositionleadstoespeciallypungentodors.41Inadditiontoodorous
water,theplantissituatedespeciallyclosetothesurroundingresidentialcommunityandwell
frequentedrecreationalopenspace.Thisproximityandlevelofodorhasforcedtheplanttoconductall
ofitstreatmentprocesseseitherwithinbuildingsorbelowground.42ForaplantlikeNewBedford,
wherethecompositionofwastewaterandtheproximityofthecommunitytotheplantposetight
constraints,managingodorcanbeespeciallyimportant.
BythenatureoftheADprocess,adigestersystemcaneffectivelymanageodors.Ananaerobicprocess,
ADrequiresasealedenvironmentforthedigestiontooccur.Asthegasesareproduced,thesealed
environmentisessentialtocapturingthebiogasforuse.InlightofthesetworequirementsforAD,AD
effectivelypreventstheescapeofodorousgasesduringdigestion.AccordingtoAlanWellsofSEA
Consultants,anengineeringandarchitecturefirmbasedinCambridge,MA,thedewateringprocessof
sludge,whichoccursatjustabouteverywastewatertreatmentplant,isthetruesourceofodors.Fora
plantlikeNewBedford,whereevendewateringonsiteisachallengebecauseofodors,ADmaynotbe
possible,butforotherplantswheredewateringdoesoccuronsite,ADdoesnotcomplicateodor
management.Moreover,theuseofCHPwithanADsystemenablesafacilitytocaptureanduse
methane,limitinganymethaneodorsthatmayotherwiseoccurfromthebreakdownoforganic
materialsattheWWTP.
41
PersonalcommunicationwithVinnieFurtadooftheNewBedfordWWTPbyShutsuWong.April25,2010.
42
PersonalcommunicationwithVinnieFurtadooftheNewBedfordWWTPbyShutsuWong.April25,2010.
23
AnotherchallengeofusingbiogasforCHPistheconditioningofthegastoremovebiogascontaminants
priortouse.Contaminantscanincludewater,siloxanes,hydrogensulfidesandchlorine.These
contaminantscanaffecttheefficiencyandfunctionofCHPsystemsiftheyarenotremovedpriortouse
asfuel.SomeCHPsystemsaremoresensitivetothelevelofcleanlinessofthebiogas;microturbines
andenginescanbecorrodedbysiloxanesifbiogasisnotcleanedwhilesteamboilersrequirelittle
biogascleaningasthesteamservesasacleanintermediary.Conditioningcanbeacostlyoperationand
isnecessarytosomeextentformostCHPsystems.ThesedesigndecisionsaboutwhichCHPsystemto
employandthelevelofconditioningnecessaryaremadeduringthedesignandengineeringprocess;
consequently,inthehandsofanexpert,thischallengeisnotdifficulttoovercome.
Productionfluctuationsarealsoaconcernfortreatmentplants.Asnotedabove,someplantsutilize
backupnaturalgassourcestoensurethatfluctuationsdonotdetractfromthebenefitthatcanbe
attainedfromemployingaCHPsystemforonsitepowergeneration.ForasmallplantliketheClinton
WWTP,seasonalfluctuationswereenoughtomakethepaybackofaCHPsystemunreasonable.All
digestergasisconsumedforheatingbuildingsanddigestersduringthewinter;wereaCHPsystemto
useallofthebiogasproducedbythedigesters,thecostofsupplementalpropaneornaturalgasto
maintaindigestertemperaturesforthosemonthsdramaticallylengthenpayback.43Thus,despitethe
couplingofCHPandADinstallationsinthisstudycertainsituationsmaybenefitfromADalone,andCHP
maynotbenecessaryformaximizingthebenefitsofdigestergas,particularlyforsmallerWWTPs.
Whereadequateproductionofbiogasisachallenge,therearealsoothersolutionssuchasthe
introductionofhighstrengthfoodwastes.AgoodexampleistheVillageofEssexJunction,VT.There,
highstrengthwastesarefedtothedigestersonascheduleandasneededtomaintaindigestergas
production;controlledadditionofthesewastesenablemanagementofconsistentgasproduction.44
AnothergoodexampleistheGloversvilleJohnstownWWTPinNY;partneringwiththedairyprocessors
initsindustrialparkenabledthisfacilitytogenerateenoughenergyonsitetobeselfsufficient.45This
demonstratesthecapacityofhighstrengthwasteinputsfromindustrytomaintainandevenenhance
biogasproduction,especiallywhenincorporatedasanadditionalinputstreamatmunicipalplants.
Thus,partneringwithindustryisonemeanstoenablefacilitiestoovercomechallengeswithproduction
fluctuations.
Asalludedtoearlier,spaceconstraintsalsoposechallengesfortheadoptionofADandCHP.Digesters
canhavelargefootprints;thesizeofthesesystemsvariesbydesign,butthetotalvolumeofthese
43
MassachusettsWaterResourcesAuthority:ClintonWastewaterTreatmentPlantMicroturbineFeasibility
Assessment.GreenInternationalAffiliates,Inc.ConsultingEngineersandCDM.October2008.andPersonal
communicationwithJohnRiccioatClintonWWTPbyShutsuWong.June15,2010.
44
PersonalcommunicationwithJamesJutras,WaterQualitySuperintendentattheVillageofEssexJunctionWWTP
inVermont,byShutsuWong.June22,2010.
45
SeeGloversvilleJohnstowncasestudy.
24
digestersisdeterminedbythevolumesofwastewatertreatedonadailybasis.Digesterssimplyneed
adequatevolumetocontainsludgewhileitisbeingdigested.DigestersforADhavenotchanged
significantlyinsizeovertimeandstillposeanobstacleforplantsthatprecludeusingAD,butsome
designmodificationssuchasthepatentedeggshapecanenablelowersludgeretentiontimes,reducing
theamountofholdingvolumenecessaryatanytimepoint.Furthermore,theadditionoforganicwastes
canalsodecreasetheretentiontimenecessaryfordigestion,apropertydemonstratedthroughtheEast
BayMunicipalUtilityDistrictsbenchscalestudies.46Bothoftheseadvancescanenablesome
reductionsinfootprintsize.
WhiletheproducersofCHPtechnologiesareabundant,theCHPtechnologydistributorsthathave
expertisewithdigestergasarelimited.Digestergashasmanycontaminantsthatmaycorrode
componentsorlimitCHPsystemefficiencies.Consequently,CHPsystemsforapplicationatWWTPs
mustbecoupledwithaneffectivefuelconditioningsystemtoadequatelycleanthedigestergas(anon
traditionalfuelascomparedtonaturalgas)beforeuse.IntheexperienceofJoanFontaineatSEA
Consultants,therewereonlythreecompanies(IngersollRand,ElliotandCapstone)thatprovided
microturbinesfordigestergaswhilethecompanywasdevelopingitsfeasibilitystudyforthePittsfield,
MAWWTP.Ofthosecompanies,IngersollRanddiscontinuedtheir70kWturbineduringthecourseof
thestudyandElliotdidnotprovidefuelconditioning;consequently,Capstonewasselectedbydefault.47
Whileprovidersarecurrentlylimited,themarketwillrespondtodemand,andasthestateencourages
theuptakeofADandCHPtechnologies,thenumberofpotentialvenderscanbeexpectedtogrow.
Otheroperationalchallengeslikestruviteremediation(buildupwithinpipesleadingtoandfrom
digestersthatcanconstrictflowrates)andfoamingindigesterscancomplicatetheimplementationof
ADandCHP.48Furthermore,theintroductionofnewtechnologiestoafacilitywouldalsorequirenew
trainingandprocessestoadequatelyoperateandmaintainthesystems.But,atthesametime,these
newtechnologiesarenotentirelynew;pipingsystemsandvalvesandothercomponentsaresimilarif
notidentical.Thus,thesechallengescanbeovercomethroughcontractingrelationshipswherethe
companythatinstallsthesystemcanbecalleduponforspecializedmaintenanceuntiltheexisting
personnelarecomfortabletakingonthoseefforts.49ThroughcommunicationswithfacilitiesusingAD
andCHP,italsoappearsthatthesefacilitiesalsolearnfromtheexperiencesofoneanotheras
challengesarise.OtherchallengesincludetheriskaversenatureofWWTPoperatorsinlightofthe
46
TurningFoodWasteintoEnergyattheEastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict:InvestigatingtheAnaerobicDigestion
ProcesstoRecyclePostConsumerFoodWaste.EastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict.
47
PersonalcommunicationwithJoanFontaineofSEAConsultantsbyShutsuWongonJune15,2010.
48
PersonalcommunicationwithRichardHoganoftheGreaterLawrenceSanitarySewerDistrictbyShutsuWong.
April16,2010.
49
PersonalcommunicationwithTomBroderickfromIntermountainCHPApplicationCenterbyShutsuWongon
June17,2010.
25
complicationsofusingoldADsystemsinthe1980s.50Inthepresentday,manyofthosecomplications
havebeenovercomethroughapplicationofADaftersecondarytreatmentasopposedtoprimary
treatment;educationandexperiencewiththenewsystemswillenableoperatorstoovercomethese
fears.51
Yetanotherchallengeistheneedfornewprocessestocontinuallyadapttoeverchangingand
increasinglystringentenvironmentalregulations;theoutputofADneedstobeabletomeetthose
standardsbeforeitwillbeembraced.Whilesupernatantqualityisstillachallenge,denitrificationhas
improveditsmanagement.52Facilitieswillalsohavetolearnandadapttoprocesschangestomanage
operationssuchassludgemixingandfoodslurrying(ifadditionalorganicwastestreamsareconsidered).
Anotherchallengethatwascitedincludedthetreatmentofwasteactivatedsludge,thesludgethathas
alreadybeentreatedbyADandhashighconcentrationsofthemicroorganismsresponsiblefor
digestion;researchinthisareahasdevelopedimprovedmechanismsforcelllysislikeultrasoniccell
burstingtofacilitatetreatmentanddisposal.53Lastly,concernshavebeenraisedregardingthepotential
toxicityoftheADbyproductifusedforlandapplication;ongoingresearchinthisareawillbeneededto
clarifytheseimpacts.
OperationalChallengesandSupport
Operationalchallengesstemfromnewprocesses,whereoperationandmaintenanceprocedures
change.OperatorsareoftenresistanttothischangeduetopasthistorywithADandreluctanceto
adapttoanewsystemwithpotentialprocessupsetswhentheexistingsystemsworkwell.
Furthermore,otherorganicwastestreamsaretobeintegratedintothewastewatertreatmentprocess
forgreaterbiogaspotential,conveyanceofthosewastestreamstotheseWWTPswillalsobea
challenge.
Despitetheoperationalchallenges,thereareoptionstomitigatethesedifficultiestomakeADandCHP
adoptableatourWWTPs.Throughlearningandtrainingandperhapsevensomethinglikeacentral
technicalsupportsystemcanenableeffectiveoperationofADandCHPatmunicipalfacilitiesand
provideconfidencetooperatorsconsideringtheuseofthesetechnologies.InthecaseofStrassin
Zillertal,Austria,throughadditionaltraininginprocessoptimization,thefacilitywasabletoachieve
greatoperationalefficiencies.54Whileconveyancemayposeachallenge,manyofthefrontrunnersin
50
DavidFerrisofMADEPataJuly13,2010meetingdiscussion.
51
DavidFerrisofMADEPataJuly13,2010meetingdiscussion.
52
Appels,Lise,JanBaeyens,JanDegrve,RafDewil.Principlesandpotentialoftheanaerobicdigestionofwaste
activatedsludge.ProgressinEnergyandCombustionScience.(2008).Volume34.p.755781.
53
54
CaseStudy:SustainableTreatment:BestPracticesfromtheStrassinZillertalWastewaterTreatmentPlant.
WaterEnvironmentResearchFoundation.March2010.
26
incorporatingorganicwastehavedevelopedorareintheprocessofdevelopingsolutions.Gloversville
JohnstownWWTPhasstrategicallydevelopedanindustrialparksuchthatdairyprocessingwastescan
havedirectpipelinestotheWWTP(seetheGloversvilleJohnstowncasestudy).55EastBayMunicipal
UtilityDistrictinOakland,CAiscurrentlydevelopingitswastecollectionsystemtoincreaseitscollection
from20to40tonsaweekto200tonsaweek56andwillsoonhaveexperiencetoprovide.
Ultimately,theoperationalchallengesassociatedwithadoptingADandCHPaswellasanyofits
associatedprocessesandtechnologiescanbeovercomethroughlearning.Asthemanycasestudies
provethattheseoperationsaremanageable,theseoperationalchallengesarenolimitationsifafacility
operatorormanageriswillingtoseekouttheexperiencesandknowledgeofothers.
PoliticalChallenges
Overcomingpoliticalchallengesareasignificantcomponentofturningwastetoenergyidealsinto
reality.Thosechallengesincludeobtainingthesupportofthedecisionmakersofacommunitysuchthat
thesestrategiescanbeimplementedatall,facilitysitingandsiteusechangesthatneedtobeapproved
bythecommunitiesaswellasothercommunityimpactsandconcerns.EspeciallyimportantinMAis
theneedforpublicacceptance.Asdiscussedearlier,focusingtheintroductionofADandnewwaste
streamstoexistingWWTPs(asopposedtositingcompletelynewwastetreatmentsitesfordiverting
organicwastes)willbeonewaytoaddressthisconcern.
AnotherchallengethatmunicipalitiesmayfaceinadoptingADandCHPistheirmanagementstructure
fortheirWWTP.Ascitiesarenotprofitmaximizingentities,theyfacegreaterobstaclestosimply
makingthemostcosteffectivedecisions;contractors,ontheotherhand,operatebasedontheir
bottomlineandarefreetomakedecisionsintheirownfinancialinterest.57Formunicipalities,
optimizingthecapitalinvestmentandtechnologyadoptionprocessismorecomplicated;issueslikelow
bidregulationslimittheuseofbesttechnologies.58Eachcityhasadifferentsystem,someWWTPs
answeringtoboardswhileotherssimplyanswertothedepartmentofpublicworks.Thelongrange
viewofeachplayeraffectsthetypesofenergydecisionsthatcanandwillbemadeforeachfacility.
55
IsitaDigesteroraPowerPlant?AnaerobicDigestionandCHPattheGloversvilleJohnstownJointWastewater
TreatmentPlant.PresentedbyRobertOstapczuk,MalcomPirnie.NortheastResiduals&BiosolidsConference.
November9,2010.
56
PersonalcommunicationwithDonaldGrayattheEastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrictbyShutsuWong.November
1,2010.
57
PersonalcommunicationwithDougBogardiatSpringfieldWWTPbyShutsuWongonApril26,2010.
58
PersonalcommunicationwithDougBogardiofSpringfieldWWTPbyShutsuWongonApril26,2010.
27
RegulatoryChallengesandOpportunities
Perhapsjustaslimitingareregulatorychallengesthatconstrainwhatcanultimatelybedoneata
WWTP.Themyriadofpermitsfromdifferentlevelsofgovernmentcanbeconflictingandcomplicated
tonavigate.Furthermore,increasinglystringentdischargepermitsprecludesystemchangeswithfears
ofimplicationsoneffluentqualityandnutrientloading.
Whiletherearenoeasysolutions,stateregulationsoffertheopportunitytoexplorewaystoencourage
thedesiredbehaviors,andinthiscase,thecaptureoftheenergypotentialcontainedwithinbiosolids.
Moreover,thestatehastheopportunitytohelpinterestedpartiesnavigatethesometimescomplex
regulatorypathways,facilitatingthetransformationofthesewastetoenergyidealsintoreality.
NonMACaseStudies
Despitethemanychallenges,manyfacilitiesandmunicipalitiesarechoosingtoadoptADandCHP.
Theirsuccessconfirmstheimportanceofthesetechnologiesfrombothaneconomicandenvironmental
standpoint.Thisnextsectionpresentsasetofcasestudies,eachwithauniquesetofincentivesand
circumstancesthatmadeADandCHPbothpossibleandeffectiveforsolidwastemanagementand
energyrecovery.Theseconditionsprovideinsightforareastotargetwhiledesigninganeffectivewaste
toenergyprogramforMassachusetts.
EastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict,California
FacilityFacts
DesignFlow 168MGD
AverageFlow 75MGD
CHPSystemType 3x2.15MWengine
PercentofTotalEnergyNeeds
90%
GeneratedOnSite
TheEastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict(EBMUD)managesthewaterresourcesofEastSanFranciscoBay
inCalifornia,providingwaterandtreatingwastewaterbeforeitsdischargeintotheSanFranciscoBay.
Whileinauspiciousinitsmission,EBMUDhasfarsurpasseditschargeforwastewatertreatment;
EBMUDisinfactaresourcerecoveryfacilitythroughitswastewatertreatmentprocesses.Designedto
treat168milliongallonsperdayofwastewater,EBMUDcurrentlytreats75milliongallonsperdayon
average.59EBMUDwasdesignedtotreatwastewaterforindustriesthathavesincemovedfromthe
59
WastewaterOnlineTour.EastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict.
<http://www.ebmud.com/wastewater/online_tour>.AccessedAugust3,2010.
28
region,leavingsignificantexcesscapacityatthetreatmentfacility.60Withover50percentofthetotal
capacityunused,EBMUDsoughtmeansofusingmoreofthatcapacity.EBMUDsprogram,thefirstof
itskindinthenation,incorporatestwoprimarywastestreamsbeyondwaterfoodwastesandfats,oils
andgrease(FOG).
Theexcesscapacity,coupledwithalocalbanoforganicsinlandfills,generatedanewmarketforEBMUD
tocapturethroughitstruckedwasteprogram.AtpresentEBMUDisreceiving20to40tonsoffood
wasteperday,butthefacilityhasthecapacityforupto200tonsperdayandiscurrentlyexploringthe
collectionmethodstomakethispossible.61Throughthisprogram,EBMUDhasnotonlygeneratednew
revenuesfromtippingfees,butithasalsopatenteditsfoodwastetreatmentprocess(seebelowfor
processdiagram)anddemonstratedtheclearbenefitsoftheadditionoffoodwastetoAD.Infact,
EBMUDisnearing100%onsiteenergygeneration.
Figure 4: EBMUD's Food Scraps Processing System62
60
TurningFoodWasteintoEnergyattheEastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict(EBMUD):WastewaterTreatment
FacilitiesTakingFoodWaste.U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,Region9:WastePrograms.
<http://www.epa.gov/region9/waste/features/foodtoenergy/wastewater.html>.AccessedAugust3,2010.
61
PersonalcommunicationwithDonaldGrayattheEastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrictbyShutsuWong.November
1,2010.
62
EBMUDsFoodTreatmentProcess:PreparingtheFoodforDigestion.U.S.EPARegion9:WastePrograms.
<http://www.epa.gov/region9/waste/features/foodtoenergy/ebmudprocess.html>.AccessedJanuary26,2011.
29
InadditiontoeffectivelyusingADandCHPattheirfacility,EBMUDhasalsoworkedwiththeEPAto
demonstratetheimpactsofaddingfoodwastetothedigesters.ThroughagrantfromtheEPARegion9
ResourceConservationFund,EBMUDconductedabenchscalestudythatdemonstratedthehigher
yieldsofmethaneandgreatervolatilesolidsdestructionwithfoodwasteascomparedtomunicipal
solids.63
Thefollowingprovidesadetailedcomparisonoffoodwasteandmunicipalwastewatersolidsbasedon
thisstudy:
Figure 5: Food Waste vs. Wastewater Solids Comparison64

Parameter FoodWastePulp WastewaterSolids
VolatileSolidsinFeed(%) 8590 7080
3
VolatileSolidsLoading(lbs/ft day) 0.60+ 0.20max
3
CODLoading(lbs/ft day) 1.25+ 0.060.20
TotalSolidFed(%) 10+ 4
VolatileSolidsReduction(%) 80 56
HydraulicDetentionTime(days) 10 15
3
MethaneGasProduced(meter /ton) 367 120
GasProduced(liters/literoffeed) 58 17
BiosolidsProduced(lbs/lbsfed) 0.28 0.55
Inadditiontogreatermethaneproductionpotentialbythreetimesandincreasedvolatilesolids
destructionbyoneandahalftimes,foodwastealsohadtwothirdsthedetentiontimeandnearly
halvedtheamountofbiosolidsproducedbytheprocess.Tosummarizetheprimaryadvantagesoffood
wastesinanaerobicdigestersaccordingtothisstudy,foodwasteresultsingreaterenergyproduction
potentialandreducedsolidsdisposalvolumesinashorteramountoftime,allleadingtogreater
operationalcostssavingsforaWWTP.
EBMUDsstudyprovidedacontrolledanalysisofthebenefitsofaddingadditionalorganicwastestreams
todigesters.Inaddition,itpresentedastrongcaseforconsideringwastestreamsbeyondthe
traditionalwastewaterstreamsfoundatWTTPsbydemonstratingthatfoodwasteshavethepotential
toenhancethebenefitsalreadyassociatedwithADandCHP.
63
64
Adaptedfrom:TurningFoodWasteintoEnergyattheEastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict:Investigatingthe
AnaerobicDigestionProcesstoRecyclePostConsumerFoodWaste.EastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict.
30
StrassinZillertal,Austria
FacilityFacts
DesignFlow 10MGD
AverageFlow 5MGD
CHPSystemType 340kWcogenerationengine
PercentofTotalEnergyNeeds Over100%
GeneratedOnSite
SecondisaninternationalexamplefromStrassinAustria,where,throughoptimizedplantoperationsin
bothADandCHPledtoelectricitygenerationthatwassufficienttomeetalloftheenergyneedsonsite.
ChangesincludedimprovedmethaneproductionoftheADsystemandincreasedoverallenergy
efficiencyofthefacilityateverystepofthewastetreatmentprocess.65
Theseoptimizationsweremadepossiblethroughahighlyeducatedworkforceandadvancedprocess
analysistools.Becauseoftheseoperatorsandtools,thesystemwassufficientlyflexibleandadequately
equippedforconstantoptimizationtoensurethatefficiencieswerebeingmaximizedateverytimepoint
regardlessofchangesinthesystem.Withtheseimprovements,Strasswasabletogenerateover100
percentofitstotalenergyneedsonsite.66
Thus,withoutevenaddingadditionalwastestreams,thisfacilitydemonstratedthatWWTPscan
generateenoughelectricitytobeselfsufficient.WereafacilitylikeStrassweretoaddfoodwaste,it
couldincreaseitsmethanegenerationpotentialbyafactorofthree.67
EssexJunction,Vermont
FacilityFacts
DesignFlow 3.3MGD
AverageFlow 2.0MGD
CHPSystemType 2x30kWMicroturbines
65
66
67
BasedonthefindingsoftheEBMUDbenchscalestudydescribedinthepreviouscasestudy.
31
GeneratedOnSite
TotalCapitalCost $303,000
ClosertoMassachusetts,theVillageofEssexJunctioninVermontsWWTPisasmallfacilitywith
3.3MGDdesignflowand2.5MGDaverageflow.Thiscasestudyisofspecialinterestasnearlythree
quartersofMAs133WWTPsfallbelow5MGD.68Monetaryincentivesweremadeavailabletothis
facilitytohelpwiththepaybackforthisproject;thesewergoverningboardrequiredthatpaybackbe
sevenyearsorless.EssexJunctionreceived$40,000fromEfficiencyVermont,$25,000fromBiomass
EnergyResourceCenter,$10,000fromNativeEnergyforcarboncredits,and$5,000fromthe
DepartmentofEnergy,Region1toensuredatacollectionanddissemination.69
Withawillingmanagertocarrythisinitiativethrough,EssexJunctionupgradeditsdigestersandadded
CHPandiscontinuingtoinnovateandexplorewaystomaximizetheenergygenerationpotential.At
presentthisfacilityisalreadyincorporatingfats,oilsandgrease(FOG)andbatchfeedinghighstrength
foodwaste.70Ultimately,EssexJunctionnotonlydemonstratesthatADandCHPcanbeeffectively
usedatsmallWWTPs,italsopossibletoeffectivelyincorporateadditionalwastestreamsinto
wastewatertreatment,andawillingmanagerenablesinnovationandadaptationastechnological
advancesemerge.
GloversvilleJohnstown,NewYork
FacilityFacts
DesignFlow 13MGD
AverageFlow 6.57MGD
CHPSystemType 2x350kWengines
PercentofTotalEnergyNeeds 100%Anticipated
GeneratedOnSite
TotalCapitalCosts $9.5M
EngineGeneratorUpgradeCost $3M
68
MassachusettsFacilitiesOnline.MassachusettsWaterPollutionControlAssociation.Web.
<http://www.mwpca.org/mwpca3.htm>.AccessedFebruary23,2010.
69
70
PersonalcommunicationwithJamesJutrasoftheVillageofEssexJunctionWWTPbyShutsuWong.June21,
2010.
32
TheGloversvilleJohnstown,NewYorkfacilityisa13MGDfacilitythatutilizeditsexcesscapacityand
proximitytodairywasteproducers(yogurtandcheeseplants)tointegrateadditionalorganicwaste
streamsintoitwastewatertreatmentprocessesforgreaterenergygeneration.Inaddition,atthetime,
thefacilitywasstrugglingfinanciallyandneededtoimproveitswastewatertreatmentbottomline;the
ADandCHPstrategyofthisfacilityenabledittotakecontrolofitsfinances.71Thefollowingaerialview
oftheareaimmediatelyaroundtheWWTPshowshowtheplacementofindustryenabledthis
partnership;thewasteproducerspayalowerratefordisposaldirectlytothedigestersattheWWTP,
andtheWWTPincreasesitsmethaneproductionanditsonsiteenergygeneration.
Figure 6: Johnstown Industrial Park and Connections to the WWTP72
ThroughNYSERDAfunding,thisfacilityisimprovingitsdigestersandbiogasstorageandisadding
additionalCHPcapacity.Atthecompletionofthisproject,theWWTPisanticipatingelectricity
generationinexcessofthefacilitysneeds!
Thiscasedemonstrateshowregionalwastescanbeincorporatedintoawastewatertreatmentfacilitys
wastemanagementplantonotonlyreducewaste,buttotaptheenergypotentialofbothwaste
71
IsitaDigesteroraPowerPlant?AnaerobicDigestionandCHPattheGloversvilleJohnstownJointWastewater
TreatmentPlant.PresentedbyRobertOstapczuk,MalcomPirnie.NortheastResiduals&BiosolidsConference.
November9,2010.
72
Aerialviewextractedfrom:IsitaDigesteroraPowerPlant?AnaerobicDigestionandCHPattheGloversville
JohnstownJointWastewaterTreatmentPlant.PresentedbyRobertOstapczuk,MalcomPirnie.Northeast
Residuals&BiosolidsConference.November9,2010.
33
streams.TheexampleoftheGloversvilleJohnstownWWTPsuggeststhatpotentialsynergiesbetween
industryandWWTPscanbeanespeciallyproductiveavenuetopursueforaregionorcommunitythatis
consideringoptionstoimprovethecosteffectivenessofadoptingADandCHP.
Nashua,NewHampshire
FacilityFacts
DesignFlow 16MGD
AverageFlow 12MGD
CHPSystemType 370kWreciprocatingengine
(currentlyoperatingat120kw)
GeneratedOnSite
NextisthecaseofNashua,NH,wherechangesinthestatelandfillingpoliciesandhighsludgedisposal
costsmotivatedthefacilitytoexplorethepossibilityofusingADandCHP.NashuasWWTPhad
formerlyburiedunstabilizedbiosolidsatthecitylandfill.Whenthatlandfillwasclosed,thecitywas
prohibitedfromburyingunstabilizedbiosolidsinthenewlandfillcell.73Fundedwitha$10millionbond,
Nashuainstalleda1.3milliongalloneggshapedprimarydigester,secondarydigesterandcongeneration
facilitytoaddresstheseneeds.74
AD,abiosolidsstabilizationprocess,enabledthefacilitytomeetlandfillingrequirementswhilealso
reducingitsdisposalneeds,reducingthetruckloadsfromasmanyas50loadsaweekto20.75Annual
disposalcostswerereducedbyasmuchasonemilliondollarswithdigestion.Inaddition,thefacility
currentlygenerates$250,000ofelectricityayear,yieldingannualsavingsof$750,000fromthe
combinationofreduceddisposalcosts,electricalsavings,operationalimprovementsandpaymentofthe
loan.76
Consideringthesavingsfromdisposalcosts,theloancouldberepaidwithintenyears.Thiscase
suggeststhatdisposalalonecanmakeanADandCHPprojectattractivetoafacility,givenconditions
suchashighcostsofdisposalandlimitationsondisposal.
73
GHDCaseStudy:TheNashuaanaerobicdigestercomplex.GHD.WilliamR.Hall,ProjectDirector.
74
75
76
34
Sheboygan,Wisconsin
FacilityFacts
DesignFlow 18.4MGD
AverageFlow 11.8MGD
CHPSystemType 10x30kwmicroturbines
GeneratedOnSite
Costofthecogenerationsystem $1.2M
CostofsystemtoSheboygan $200,000
ThelastcasestudyofinterestisSheboygan,WI.Betweentheyearsof2002and2008,thenaturalgas
pricesroseby108percentandelectricityratesroseby72percent.77Anonsiteenergygeneration
allowedthefacilitytoinsulateitselffromthoserisingoperationalcosts.
InapublicprivatepartnershipwithAlliantEnergy,thelocalpowerutility,AlliantEnergypurchasedand
installed10microturbineswhiletheWWTPpurchasedaheatrecoverysystem,foratotal$1.2Mproject
cost,forwhichtheWWTPwasonlyresponsiblefor$200,000.TheWWTPpurchasesitspowerfromthe
utility,andthepowerutilitypaystheWWTPtomonitorthesystem,yieldingareducedenergycostfor
theWWTP.Thispartnershipenabledaformofnetmetering.Aftersixyears,theWWTPwillhavethe
optionofbuyingthemictroturbinesfromAlliantenergyfor$100,000,just10percentofthetotal
investmentbytheutility.78
Withtheincorporationofhighstrengthwastes,cheeseprocessingwasteinthiscase,thefacilitysaw
biogasproductionincreasedramatically.79SimilartoGloversvilleJohnstown,theindustrialwaste
partnershipprovideslowercostwastedisposalforthecheeseprocessorwhileincreasingbothheatand
electricitygenerationfortheWWTPandAlliantEnergy.Thefacilityisnowproducing3550percentof
itsenergyneedsonsite.80
77
Greer,Diane.HighStrengthWastesBoostBiogasProduction.Biocycle.March2009,Vol.50,No.3,p.41.
<http://www.jgpress.com/archives/_free/001831.html>.AccessedonJanuary28,2011.
78
79
80
PersonalcommunicationwithDaleDoerr,SuperintendentofSheboyganRegionalWWTP,November1,2010
35
Sheboygansexperiencedemonstratesthepotentialofpublicprivatepartnerships,asystemoftencalled
performancecontracting,wheretheprivatesectorpurchasestheequipmentandthereisasharingof
theequipment,operationand/ormaintenanceofthesystem.Theenablesfacilitiestoavoidtheinitial
costsofinstallationwhilestillbenefittingfromthetechnology.Sheboygantookthepublicprivate
partnershiponestepfurtherwiththeinjectionofhighstrengthwastesintoitsdigesterstoboostbiogas
andmethaneproduction.
ElementsofSuccess
Tosummarizethefindingsfromthecasestudies,therewereseveralkeyelementsofsuccessaswellas
certaincombinationsofconditionsthatmotivatedchangeatthesefacilities.Mostnotably,manyof
thesefacilitieshadlimitingconditionsthatmotivatedexplorationofADandCHP.Thoselimitations
includedprohibitivedisposalcosts,insufficientdisposallocations,organicsbans,highenergycostsand
financialtrouble.
Theothermostprominentconditionwastherecognitionoftheopportunitiestobehadandinitiativeto
capitalizeonthoseopportunities.EBMUDtransformeditsexcesscapacityintoanopportunitytoreceive
additionalorganicwastestreams,helpedthecommunitycomplywithitslocalorganicsban,and
patentedafoodslurryingprocesstotransformtheideasintoarealityattheWWTP.Gloversville
Johnstownsawtheopportunitiestopartnerwithdairyfoodprocessorsanddevelopedanindustrialpark
withtheinfrastructuretofeedtheirdigestershighstrengthwastestoboostenergyproduction.Strass
determinedefficienciescouldbeimprovedanddevelopedplantstaffandtoolstoachievethose
efficiencies.SheboyganreceivedauniqueofferforpartnershipwithAlliantEnergyandtookit.Nashua
sawmeetingregulatoryrequirementstostabilizeitssludgeoutputasanopportunitytoalsoreduceits
disposalcosts.FairhavensrecognizedtheeconomicbenefitsofADandCHPthroughitsfeasibilitystudy
andwasalreadypreparedtomoveforwardbythetimeafundingopportunitypresenteditself.Thelist
couldcontinueonandon.
Ultimately,thecoremessageofthesestudiesisthatADandCHPpresentawiderangeofeconomic,
environmentalandpracticalbenefitsandopportunities,anditisuptomunicipalitiesandfacilitiesto
capitalizeupontheopportunitieswhentheyarise.Theseopportunitiesandbenefitscanoftenbe
createdbylocal,stateandregionalprograms,includinginitiativesthatbanorganicsinlandfills,establish
moratoriumsonwastecombustionorsetmorestringentsludgestabilizationrequirements.
BiosolidsOpportunitiesinMA
Inlightofallofthisresearch,thereisaclearmessagethatthesetechnologiespresentanopportunity
forMAiftherelevantplayersarewillingtotakeholdoforganicwastemanagementatWWTPs.An
effectivewastetoenergyprogramispossiblethroughtargetingWWTPs,andADandCHParestrong
candidatesforenablingsuchaprogram.
ThefollowingpiechartdepictshowbiosolidsarecurrentlymanagedinMAanddemonstratesonefacet
oftheuntappedpotentialforenergygenerationthroughanaerobicdigestion:
36
Figure 7: 2005-2006 Biosolids Use/Disposal in MA (dry tons/year)

Beneficialusequantitiesarebasedonsludgeamounts.
TotalMABiosolidsProduced:176,700drytonsperyear.
DataSource:MABiosolidsSurvey20052006.
Asofthis2005to2006assessment,67percentofMAsbiosolids,or118,410drytonsayear,aresent
foreitherlandfillingorincineration.While30percentisbeneficiallyused,onlyeightpercentofthatis
usedwithinthestateofMA.ClearlytherearesignificantwastestreamsinMAthatcanbecapturedfor
energygeneration,whetherthroughADoranyotherwastetoenergytechnology.
AddingAdditionalOrganicWasteStreamstoWWTPs
Inadditiontomunicipalwastewatersolids,otherorganicwastestreamscanbeincorporatedintothe
wastewatertreatmentprocessifafacilityisutilizingAD.Notonlyisthisbeneficialforthebreakdownof
otherorganicsolids,addingotherorganicssuchasfoodscrapshasthepotentialtoenhancethe
digestionprocess,improvingvolatileandtotalsolidsbreakdownandincreasingmethaneproduction
potential.81ThispotentialwasdemonstratedthroughthestudybytheEastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict
inOakland,California,anexamplethatwasexploredingreaterdetailintheNonMACaseStudies
section.
Theconsiderationofadditionalorganicwastestreamsisimportantbecausethesepotentialstreamsare
significantcomponentsofthesolidwastesthatendupinlandfills.ThefollowingtablefromtheEPA
Region9showsthebreakdownofthesolidwastesthatendupinlandfills:
81
37
Figure 8: Municipal Solid Waste Sent to Landfill, 200782
Thus,beyondbiosolidsinMA,therearealsosignificantstreamsofothersolidswastes,ofwhichfood
wasteisasignificantcomponent.AccordingtoRegion9spiechart,approximately18percentofour
solidwastesarecomprisedoffoodwaste.Giventhatfoodwastehasthepotentialtogeneratethree
timesmoremethanepertonascomparedtobiosolids,83tappingthisadditionalorganicwastestream
withanaerobicdigestionwillprovidesignificantbenefitsonmultiplefrontsfromtheperspectivesof
solidwastemanagement,greenhousegasreductionandrenewableenergygeneration.
So,tosumupthebenefits,addingadditionalwastestreamscanincreasetherevenuepotential,
methaneproductionandrenewableenergyproductionassociatedwiththeadditionofanaerobic
digestersandcombinedheatandpowersystems.Moreover,thisstrategywillenableMAtodivert
organicwastefromlandfills.Allofthesebenefitswillenableustoachieveotherexistingstategoals,
includingthenew2010SolidWasteMasterPlanandothergoalsassociatedwithreducinggreenhouse
gasesandincreasinguseofrenewableenergy.
TheMassachusettsContext
GiventhestrongcasefortheuseofADandCHPatmunicipalWWTPstonotonlyreducetheir
environmentalimpactsbuttofacilitatethereducedimpactofstatewastestreams,thissection
82
TurningFoodWasteintoEnergyattheEastBayMunicipalUtilityDistrict(EBMUD):ReducingFoodWaste.U.S.
EPA,Region9:WastePrograms.<http://www.epa.gov/region9/waste/features/foodtoenergy/foodwaste.html>.
AccessedJanuary26,2011.
83
38
identifiesareasforinterventionandlooksforwardtoemergingideasandstrategiesthatmaycontribute
tothemosteffectiveprogrampossibleforthestate.Acriticalcomponentofmovingforwardisthe
recognitionofthecontextwithinwhichtheseopportunitieslietoenablethebestcraftedstrategyfor
capitalizingonthosepossibilities.Thus,thissectionintendstoestablishasenseofthatframework,
whichincludesareviewexistingstategoalsandinitiativesthatarerelevanttoADandCHP.
ExistingStateGoals:Draft20102020SolidWasteMasterPlan,Greenhouse
GasEmissions,RenewableandAlternativePortfolioStandards
SeveralaspectsofenvironmentalprotectionforthestateofMAarerelevanttothisdiscussionof
renewableenergygenerationatmunicipalWWTPs.MostnotableistheDraft20102020SolidWaste
MasterPlan.ThefollowingtablehighlightstherelevantgoalsandhowanADandCHPbasedprogram
canenableMAtoattainitssolidwastegoalsforthenexttenyears.
Figure 9: Draft 2010-2020 Solid Waste Master Plan Goals and its Relevance to AD and CHP
Draft20102020SolidWasteMasterPlanGoals& GoalrelevancetoADandCHP
Focuses(extracteddirectlyfromthePlan)84
Reducesolidwastedisposalby30%by2020,from ADwillhelpMAattainthisgoal.ADreducesthe
6,550,000tonsofdisposalin2008to4,550,000tonsof amountofresidualsthatneeddisposalfromaWWTP.
disposalby2020. ADalsoenablesthediversionoforganicwastesfrom
otherdisposalstreams,breakingdownthewasteand
thusreducingthevolumesneedingeventualdisposal.
By2050,Massachusettsresidentsandbusinesses Again,thediversionoforganicwastestoWWTPscan
shouldreducetheamountofwastetheyproduceby facilitatereachingthisgoal.Foragriculturalbusinesses,
80%,andvirtuallyeliminateproductscontainingtoxic ADcanreducebiosolidsdisposalvolumes.
chemicalsfromourdisposalfacilities.
EliminateBarrierstoSitingRecyclingandComposting Directlymentionedasacomponentofthisgoal,this
FacilitiesModifyMassDEPssitingregulationsto initiativewillfacilitatetheadoptionofAD(andCHP
eliminatebarrierstositingfacilitiesthatsupport wherebeneficial)andthedevelopmentofnewfacilities
increasedrecyclingandcomposting,aswellasother tomanagewastesusingAD.
facilitiessuchasanaerobicdigestionfacilitiesthat
generateenergyfromsourceseparatedorganic
materials.Maintainstrictfacilityoversighttoensurea
highlevelofenvironmentalperformance.
MaintainMoratoriumonMunicipalWaste Withamoratoriumonmunicipalwastecombustion,
CombustionMaintainthe1990moratoriumon municipalitieswillhavetoseekothermeansofwaste
expansionofmunicipalsolidwastecombustors. disposal,especiallyiftheirwastestreamsincrease.AD
Additionalcapitalintensivedisposalfacilitieswould isonesuchoptionthatmunicipalitiescanpursue.
resultinfixedcapacityfordecadesthatwouldnotbe
neededgiventhisPlansaggressiverecyclinggoalsand
policies.
Workwithinterestedparties(municipalitiesand/or ADisastrongcandidateforachievingintegratedsolid
businesses)todevelopintegratedsolidwaste wastemanagementsystems,particularlyasitisa
84
DraftMassachusetts20102020SolidWasteMasterPlan:PathwaytoZeroWaste.MassachusettsDepartment
ofEnvironmentalProtectionandExecutiveOfficeofEnergyandEnvironmentalAffairs.July1,2010.
39
managementsystemsthatachieveourobjectiveof processreceptivetoawiderangeoforganicwaste
maximizingrecyclingandcompostingandminimizing streamsincludingmunicipalwastewatersolids,source
residualmaterialsinneedofdisposal. separatedorganics,foodprocessingwastes,etc.
Pilotinnovativeapproachesthatachieveour WhileADandCHPmaynotbetheonlyoptions,they
objectiveofimprovingtheenvironmental arestrongcontendersforimprovingtheenvironmental
performanceofsolidwastefacilities,candivert100% performanceofWWTPs,reducingwastevolumes(AD
ofwastematerialsfromdisposal,andhelpachievethe notonlyreducestotalsolids,itsbyproductcanalsobe
goalofzerowasteatalocalandregionallevel. reusedasasoilamendment)andultimatelyhelpingthe
regionattainitsgoalofzerowaste.
Alsorelevantareeffortstoreducegreenhousegasemissionsinthestateandthecontinuing
developmentofastaterenewableenergycreditprogram.TheGlobalWarmingSolutionsActrequires
thatgreenhousegasemissionsbereducedby80percentfrom1990levelsby2050andby10to25
percentby2020.85ManagingsolidwastethroughADandCHPcanfacilitatereachingthegoalssetforth
bythisactbyreducingtheamountofmethaneemissionsthatwouldotherwisebeemittedduringthe
breakdownoforganicmaterialsinwastewatersludgeandotherorganicscurrentlybeingdigested
aerobiclyorbeinglandfilled.Allowingthesewastestreamstobedigestedinacontained,anaerobic
environmentpreventstheescapeofmethanetotheatmosphereandproductivelyconsumesthat
methane(agas20timesmoredamagingthancarbondioxideintermsofheatcapturewithinthe
atmosphere86)forrenewableenergygeneration.Therenewableenergyitselfalsopreventsgreenhouse
gasemissionsbydisplacingothergreenhousegasemittingenergysources.
Lastly,MassachusettshasestablishedaRenewableandAlternativePortfolioStandard(RPSandAPS)
programthroughthestateDepartmentofEnergyResources.Theseportfoliostandardsrequirethatthe
stateobtainitsenergyfromaspecifiedpercentageofrenewableandalternativesources,withthese
percentagesgrowingannually.87Asaconsequence,electricitysuppliersmustpurchasesomeportionof
theirenergyfromthesesources.Todoso,theNewEnglandGenerationInformationSystem(managed
byNEPOOL)wasestablishedtotrackavailablerenewableenergysourcesandthecreditstheyproduce
tradeandpurchase.88Throughthisprogram,amarketwasgeneratedforrenewableenergyandthe
creditsassociatedwiththem.Consequently,thedevelopmentofadditionalrenewableenergysources
atWWTPsthroughADandCHPnotonlyenablesthestatetoachieveitsstandard,italsoproducesa
85
86
ClimateChange:Methane.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.Web.AccessedJanuary31,2011.
<http://www.epa.gov/outreach/>.
87
See:www.mass.gov/energy/rpsformoreinformationonrenewableportfoliostandardsinMA.
88
GenerationInformationSystem(NEGIS)andRenewableEnergyCertificates(RECs).MassachusettsClean
EnergyCenter.<http://www.masscec.com/index.cfm/cdid/11518/amp%3Bpid/11163>.AccessedNovember17,
2010.
40
potentialrevenuestreamforgeneratingthisenergybeyondthecreationoftheenergyitself,yet
anotherreasonformunicipalfacilitiestoconsiderthesetechnologies.
OtherMAConditions
AccordingtotheSWMP,totallandfillcapacityofthestateisalsoexpectedtodecline;in2009,therewas
justundertwomilliontonsavailable,andthatcapacityisexpectedtobecomearound600,000tonsby
2020,reducingtotalcapacitybyapproximately70percent.89Reducedcapacitypresentsasituationlike
thatofNashua,NH;landfillspacebecomesmorevaluableandcostly,forcingmunicipalitiestoseek
alternativedisposalmechanismstoreducethosecosts.Thissituationmayalsopresentarevenue
generatingopportunityforWWTPstoreceiveadditionalorganicwastesattheirfacilities.Inanticipation
ofthisfuture,WWTPshaveevenmorereasontoconsiderADasapartoftheirlongtermwaste
managementstrategy.
ThePrivateSector
LookingbeyondmunicipalWWTPs,theprivatesectorisalsoadoptingthesetechnologiesbecauseofthe
financialbenefitsofdoingso.Whilethefocusofthisstudyistheopportunitiesatmunicipalwastewater
facilities,theprivatesectorisanotherareatoconsiderwhencraftingregulationsandprogramsfora
wastetoenergyprogramandhasthepotentialtobeacomponentofamorecomprehensivestatewide
plan.Inaddition,ashighlightedearlier,publicprivatepartnershipsoftenenablethepublicsectorto
takestepsthatwouldotherwisebetoocostlyordifficulttodo.
OneexampleistheRutlandFarmsprojectbytheMADairyEnergyGroupthatreceivedadraft
DeterminationofNeedpermitthroughthesolidwastemanagementprogramin2010.Thesefivefarms
areworkingwithAGreenEnergy,LLCtodevelopanaerobicdigestersformanureandsourceseparated
organics.ThissmallfacilitywillgenerateelectricityforuseatJordanDairyfarmsandwillproducea
liquidfertilizerfromthesupernatantoftheanaerobicdigestionprocess.Theyarepartneringwith
CasellaWasteSystemstodeterminethebeststrategyforcollecting,transportingandprocessingsource
separatedorganicsthatwillbebroughttothefacility.Throughthesepartnerships,thiscollectionoffive
farmsistakingstridestocapturetheavailableenergyintheirexistingwastestreams.
OtherLinkages
Thinkingbeyondtheincorporationofmultiplewastestreamsforanintegratedwastemanagementplan,
awastetoenergyprogramcanexpandevenfarthertoincludethestatepowergenerationsystem.The
LosAngelesDepartmentofWaterandPowerhasdevelopedapartnershipbetweentwoofitsfacilities;
theHyperionWastewaterTreatmentPlantsendsitsbiogasbypipelinetotheScattergoodSteamPower
Plantforpowergeneration.Thinkingmoreregionally,thissystemhasenabledresourcerecoverywhile
minimizingtheinfrastructureduplicationacrosssectors.Whilesimilartotheindustrialparksetupat
89
41
GloversvilleJohnstown,Hyperionusesitsproximitytoapowerplantforthemostdirectmeansof
transfer.Bothsystemslinkacrosssectorsandavoidunnecessaryredundancyinwastewatertreatment
equipment(GloversvilleJohnstown)andinpowergenerationequipment(LosAngeles).Thesetypesof
linkagesshouldalsobeexploredforMassachusettstomaximizeeffortswhilecuttingbackon
redundancy,especiallyinlightoflimitedmunicipalbudgets.
Inlightofallofthisresearch,thereareclearopportunitiesinMAtodevelopaneffectivewasteto
energyprogramthroughencouragingWWTPstoadoptADandCHP.Areviewofexistingstategoals
revealsthatthereareopportunitiestoachievemultiplegoalssimultaneouslythroughawastetoenergy
programfocusedonmunicipalWWTPs.Linkingmultiplewastestreamsfromaregionalorstatewide
perspectivecanenablemaximumimpactinanystateactions,butfurtherstudywillbenecessary
determinetheoptimalstrategyfordoingso.
Conclusion
MassachusettshastheopportunitytobealeaderinNewEnglandinitsmanagementofwastesystems,
especiallyifitbeginstothinkmorebroadlyaboutitswastestreams.ThisstudyarguesfortheuseofAD
andCHP,technologiesthatareknowntobeeffectiveinrenewableenergygeneration.Topushthe
envelopeandtrulybealeader,thestatecantakestridestodomorethanjustthat;Massachusettshas
theopportunitytoviewitswastesystemsholistically,toseewherethosesystemsoverlapandthrough
regionalsolutions,adoptavisionofresourcerecovery,wheremoreisreclaimedandlessiswasted.
Withmillionsofgallonsofwastewaterpassingthroughtheplantseachday,theopportunitycostsof
foregoingthisrenewableenergysourcearegrowingaswedelayactiononadoptingthesetechnologies.
Thesecostsarebothenvironmentalandeconomic;ADandCHPminimizeemissionsfromenergy
generationandwastewaterprocessingwhichgeneratingpositivecashflowforWWTPs.Stateslike
CaliforniaandNewYorkarealreadyaheadofthedomesticcurveinadoptingthesepractices,aplace
whereMassachusettscanalsobeifstepsaretakentoenableresourcereclamationatitsWWTPs.The
possibilitiesofADandCHPareproven,notonlyintheUnitedStates,butalsoabroadwhereADandCHP
havealreadytakenrootandarefarmorewidelyacceptedandadopted.Whilethereareveritable
challengesintranslatingtheseidealsintoreality,thegrandvisionofMassachusettsasaleaderin
resourcereclamationintheNorthEastisnotbeyondattainmentaslongaswe,asastate,chooseto
takestridesintherightdirection.
Wemustidentifykeyprojectstodayandofferthemthefinancialmeanstodemonstratethefutureof
renewableenergy,wastewatertreatmentandresourcerecovery.Indoingso,Massachusettscanspark
thetransformationofNewEnglandswastesystemsintoanenvironmentallysoundandeconomically
stablenetwork,helpingbridgethegapwhereournationfallsshortofglobalactiontomitigatehuman
environmentalimpacts.
42
AppendixA:ResourcesforImplementation
ThestudyofADandCHP,itsimpacts,thescientificbackingforitsbenefits,andtheexperienceofother
facilitiesarecontinuallygrowingandevolving.Thus,whilethisdiscussionhasattemptedtogatheras
muchinformationaspossibleintooneplace,muchmoreexplorationisnotonlypossiblebutnecessary
totailoraprogramforthestateandindividualfacilities.Inthissection,potentialresourceshavebeen
gatheredforfurtherinvestigation,keepinginmindthatnewstudiesandreportsarecontinually
emergingasacceptanceandexcitementgrowsaroundtheideaofusingWWTPsasopportunitiesfor
renewableenergyandorganicwastemanagement.
StepsforAdoptingADandCHP
InitialstepsforadoptingADandCHPincludeinitialfeasibilitystudies.InthecaseofPittsfieldWWTP,
theplantwasabletoacquireaninitialgrantfromtheMassachusettsTechnologyCollaborative(MTC)to
fundafeasibilitystudywithSEAConsultants.90Whilenotallplantsmaybeabletoacquiresuchgrants
(feasibilitiesstudies,whileconsideredlowcostascomparedtolaterstepsintheprocess,costinthe
orderoftensofthousands),otherprogramsexistfordemonstratingthepotentialsofanewcombined
heatandpowersystem.Forexample,theNortheastCombinedHeatandPowerApplicationCenter
conductsauditsforplantsthatalreadyhaveAD.Theaudithelpsplantsunderstandcostandenergy
savingpotentialofCHPsystemfortheirparticulartreatmentplant.Furthermore,privatefirmsthat
provideADtechnologiestoplantsmayalsoprovidefreeinitialbudgetarystudies;ADISystems,Inc.
suggestedthattheywouldbewillingtoprovidemunicipalitiesafreebudgetaryproposal.91Theseinitial
assessmentsatnocosttotheplantcanhelpplantsmakethebesteducateddecisionsfortheviabilityof
thesetechnologiesattheirspecificplant.Whilethechallengesofupfrontcostsoftenpreclude
consideration,thesefeasibilitystudiescanenablefacilitiestoexplorethefinancialbenefitsofinvesting
inADandCHPsystemsthatmayoutweightheinstallationcosts.Forexample,theinitialfeasibilitystudy
inFairhaven,MA,whichwasonlyafractionoftheinstallationcost,demonstratedthefinancialbenefits
forthecommunitybeforeanycommitmentwasmadeforitsconstruction.
Acriticalcomponentoftheadoptionprocessisthebuyinofplantoperators,localdecisionmakersand
thecommunity.Plantoperatorsareresponsibleforcarryingoutthenewprocessesandmaintainingthe
newsystems,andtheirsupportforthesetechnologiesisessentialtobringaboutsuccessful
implementation.Asmentionedearlier,pasthistoryofchallengingADsystemsinthe1980shasfostered
apredispositionagainstthesetechnologies,asignificanthurdlethatmustbeaddressed.InUtah,
throughtheIntermountainApplicationCenter,plantshavehadtheopportunitytolearnmoreabout
thesetechnologies.Throughthesetrainingsessions,severalfacilitieshaveelectedtoexplorethe
90
PhoneinterviewwithAlWellsbyShutsuWong.June2010.
91
ContactScottChristianatADISystems,Inc.at18005612831.
43
possibilityofCHPattheirfacilities.92Othersuggestionshaveincludedthedevelopmentofsomeformof
statewidetechnicalassistanceorhelpdesktypesystemtofacilitatelearning,trainingand
troubleshooting.
EvenmoreimportantthantheplantoperatorsistheacceptanceofADandCHPbylocalgoverning
bodies.Inorderforfacilitiestoobtainnewinfrastructure,thelocalcommunitymustseethevalueof
thesetechnologiesandchoosetoacquirethenecessaryequipment.Furthermore,anyfinancialsupport
orfinancingdecisionsmustpassthroughlocaldecisionmakers.Thus,withoutlocalcommunityand
decisionmakerbuyin,evenwithplantoperatorsupport,anaerobicdigestionandcombinedheatand
powercannotbecomeareality.
PotentialADandCHPInitiativeStrategies
Throughallofthecommunicationswithpractitionersinthefield,rangingfromWWTPoperators
themselvestofederallyfundedregionalassistancecenters,manyrecommendationsemergedfora
strategicapproachforstateefforts.Fromthecollectionofthosesuggestionsandfromthepictureof
thestateofADandCHPapplicationsinmunicipalWWTPs,thisstudyhasyieldedseveralstrategiesthat
maybeeffectiveinreachingouttopotentialadoptersofADandCHP.
PlantsthatalreadyhaveADorareintheprocessofbuildingnewsystemsoughttobethefirsttarget.
Theseplantswouldrequirethesmallestcapitalinvestmentstoachieveonsiterenewableenergy
generation,astheyalreadyhaveexistingADsystems,orbecausetheyarealreadyredesigningand
reconstructingthefacility.Whilesomeplants,liketheClintonWWTP,maynotprocessenough
wastewatertomaintainacosteffectiveCHPsystem,otherlargerplantsliketheGreaterLawrence
SanitarySewerDistricthavenotassessedtheviabilityofaddingCHPtotheirexistingsystem.
FocusonplantsforwhichtheadditionofADwouldproducesufficientbiogasyearroundtosupporta
CHPsystem.Theseplantsaregenerallylargerandcanachievegreatereconomiesofscalewhen
installingADandCHPsystems.93Furthermore,asthelargerplantsprocesshighervolumesof
wastewater,thereisalsogreaterenvironmentalbenefitachievedthroughtheselargerprojectsas
comparedtothesmallerprojects.
Forsmallerplants,themosteffectivesetupforrenewableenergymaybeforADalone,whereallofthe
biogascanbereusedonsiteformostoftheyear.Thisapproachwouldreducethesizeoftheprojects
thatarerecommendedandwouldperhapsmakethemmorefinanciallyfeasible.Asshownbythe
ClintonWWTP,belowacertainsize,installingaCHPsystemmayhaveaverylongpaybacktimelineas
excessgasisonlyseasonalinthecoldNewEnglandclimate.However,considerationofotherorganic
92
PersonalcommunicationwithChristineBrinkerofIntermountainCHPApplicationCenterbyShutsuWong.June
22,2010.
93
PersonalcommunicationwithTomBroderickofIntermountainCHPApplicationCenterbyShutsuWongonJune
17,2010.
44
wastestreamscanboostmethaneproductionpotentialandmakethesefacilitiesgoodcandidatesfor
ADandCHPsystemsdespitetheirsmallsize;EssexJunctionisagoodexampleofsuchacase.
Overall,WWTPsareanopportunetargetasmanyarealreadysetapartfromthecommunitiesandthus
havegreaterflexibilityfortheadditionofdigestersandCHPtechnology.Furthermore,asthesefacilities
aredesignedandpermittedtomanagewastewateranddischargeparticulareffluents,municipal
WWTPsarealsoopportunitiesfortheinsertionofadditionalorganicwastesforhigherratesofbiogas
andrenewableenergygeneration.
InnovativeWatertoEnergySolutions
AstheadoptionofADandCHPatWWTPsisnoeasytask,severalotherpotentialmeansoftappingthe
energycontainedwithinwastewaterareworthnoting.Oneespeciallyinnovativesolutionistheuseof
microbialfuelcellstodirectlyharvestenergyfromrawwaste.IntActlabsandseveralotherstartupsare
intheprocessofdevelopingthistechnologyforapplicationssuchasmunicipalwastewatertreatment.94
Otheroptionsincludethemixingofsludgeintolandfilltrashtocatalyzemethaneproductionfor
capture.SpringfieldWWTPiscurrentlysendingtheirsludgetolandfill,wherethegasiscaptureand
reused.Unfortunately,thissystemisnotasefficientfortheproductionandcaptureofbiogas.
Regionalfacilitiesareanotheralternativethatmaybemorefeasible,particularlyforspaceconstrained
facilities.Furthermore,aregionalfacilitycanbemuchlargerandhavegreatereconomiesofscale
duringtheinstallationofADandCHP.Thedownsideisthatplantswouldhavetocontinuetransporting
theirsludgefortreatment,limitingthefinancialbenefitofeachfacility.Atthesametime,the
operationalchangesandchallengeswouldbelimitedtothisfacility,andthecapitalcostscanbeshared
orfinancedbyalargerentitysuchasthestate.
Asmentionedpreviously,theadditionofhighstrengthfoodwastescanalsoimprovetheproductivityof
anADandCHPsystem.IfADandCHPsystemsaremoreproductive,thepaybackontheinstallationof
thesesystemscanbeshortened,makingtheadoptionofADandCHPmorefinanciallyfeasible,evenfor
smallerplants.Whilestillconsideredrelativelynew,thecasestudiesincludedinthisreport
demonstratethatfoodwastescanbeeffectivelyincorporatedintowastewatertreatmentsystemsto
enhancemethane(andrenewableenergy)production.
Lastly,selectingasingleplantasapilotprojectmayhelpdemonstratetheeffectivenessofADandCHP
technologies.Thisplantmaysubsequentlyprovideoperationallessonstointerestedplants,enabling
riskaverseoperatorstoovercomefearsofunknownprocessesandskepticismabouttheirviability.
Doingsowillalsoenablethetestingofnewideassuchastheadditionofhighstrengthfoodwastes.
94
The50BestInventionsof2009:TheElectricMicrobe.TIMEMagazine.November12,2009.
<http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1934027_1934003_1933965,00.html>.Accessed
January21,2010.
45
MappingMassachusetts:APotentialApproach
InthefollowingmapsofMA,informationregardingthedistributionofdigesters,WWTPs,foodwaste
generatorsandotherbiosolidsgeneratorshasbeengatheredtodepictagraphicalandgeographical
meansofassessingthebestopportunitiesforintervention.Thismappingprojectisonlyasample
approachforhowfacilitiesandplacescanbeselectedforpilotprojectsorspecialattentionaspartofan
ADandCHPinitiative.
46

The Distribution of Organic Waste and
Anaerobic Digesters in Massachusetts
NEWBURYPORT
COLRAIN LAWRENCE
IPSWICH
DEERFIELD LEOMINSTER
PITTSFIELD
CLINTON
RUTLAND
HADLEY
NORTHAMPTON
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WARE
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SHEFFIELD SPRINGFIELD
GRANVILLE BROCKTON
ATTLEBORO
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Food Waste Generator
Figure 10: The Distribution of Anaerobic Digesters in MA
FAIRHAVEN
Agricultural Digesters
Active WWTP Digesters
Inactive WWTP Digesters

Farm locations were randomly moved within the town
so locations only indicate a farm or farms of at least the
stated herd size someplace in town.
0 5 10 20 30 40
Miles
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47
Figure 11: The Distribution of Anaerobic Digesters and Food Waste Generators in MA
48

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ATTLEBORO
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Swine 300 or More !!!
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Food Waste Generator !!
! !
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Agricultural Digesters !
!!!
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!!!
!
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!
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!
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!
Active WWTP Digesters
!!!
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Inactive WWTP Digesters !!

!
!!
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!! ! !!! !
Farm locations were randomly moved within the town
so locations only indicate a farm or farms of at least the
stated herd size someplace in town.
0 5 10 20 30 40
Figure 12: The Distribution of Organic Waste and Anaerobic Digesters in MA
Miles
g:\users\Brian.Brodeur\transfer\tempp\newfolder\cows_and_pigs.mxd

49
AppendixB:AdditionalResources
Additionalresourcesarelistedinthissectionforfurtherstudyandexploration:
Draft20102020SolidWasteMasterPlan:APathtoZeroWaste
(http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/priorities/dswmpu01.htm)
MAGreenCommunitiesGrantProgram
(http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeaterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Energy,+Utilities+&+Clean+
Technologies&L2=Green+Communities&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcontent&f=doer_green_commu
nities_gcgrantprogram&csid=Eoeea)
MASustainableDevelopmentInitiative
GlobalWarmingSolutionsAct(http://www.mass.gov/dep/air/climate/gwsa_docs.htm)
MappingofFoodWasteandFoodWasteGeneratorsinMA
CompostingFacilitieshttp://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/reduce/composti.htm,
FoodWasteGeneratorsMap
http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/priorities/foodmap.htm
MADEPWastewaterTreatmentPlantsWebsite
(http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/wastewater/wwtps.htm)
MAWaterPollutionControlAssociationListofWWTPs(http://www.mwpca.org/mwpca3.htm)
NewEnglandInterstateWaterPollutionControlCommissionWastewaterOperatorDatabase
(http://www.neiwpcc.org/wastewater/search.asp)
NortheastCombinedHeatandPowerApplicationCenter(providesinitialassessments)
(http://www.northeastchp.org/nac/)
MassachusettsCleanEnergyCenter(hasprovidedgrantsforfeasibilitystudiesinthepast)
(http://www.masscec.com/)
EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyCHPPartnership(providestechnicalassistancetocandidate
sites)(http://www.epa.gov/chp/)
AdditionalFundingOpportunities:
2009ARRAFundingforCleanWaterandDrinkingWaterStateRevolvingFunds
(http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/eparecovery/index.cfm),
EnergyPolicyActof2005(http://lpo.energy.gov/wp
content/uploads/2010/09/EPAof2005.pdf),
50
EnergyIndependenceandSecurityActof2007
(http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/RL342941.pdf),
NationalGridCHPIncentive(http://www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/a3
1_news2.asp?document=4853)
Report:EvaluationofCombinedHeatandPowerTechnologiesforWastewater
TreatmentFacilities.ColumbusWaterWorks,preparedbyBrown&Caldwell.
December2010.(http://www.cwwga.org/pdf/CHP_Technologies_prelim%5B1%5D.pdf)
51
AppendixC:TablesofCaseStudies
52
53

54
55
AppendixD:AnaerobicDigestionSystems
TheprocessofADisdrivenbymicroorganismswhichbreakdownorganicmaterialsintheabsenceof
oxygen.Thesemicroorganisms,anaerobicbacteria,whichnaturallyoccurinsewage,beginbreaking
downtheorganicmaterialsinwastewaterevenbeforetheyreachthetreatmentplant.Theprocessof
digestionbythebacteriaoccursinthreestages,bythreedifferenttypesofbacteria.95Inthefirst
stage,hydrolyticbacteriaconvertcomplexorganicwastesintosugarsandaminoacids.Fromthese
products,fementativebacteriaformorganicacids.Usingtheseacids,acidogenicmicroorganismsform
hydrogen,carbondioxideandacetate,andfinally,biogas,comprisedmostlyofmethaneandcarbon
dioxide,isformedbymethanogenicbacteria.96Dependingonthefeedstock,orinotherwords,the
sourceofthedewateredsludge,thisgascanalsocontainothertracecombustibleandnoncombustible
gasesinadditiontocontaminantssuchaswater,siloxanesandhydrogensulfides.97Thesecontaminants
canbecorrosiveandrequireremovalbeforeusewithCHPsystems.
Asidefromthebiogasitself,thedigestionprocessleavestwootherbyproducts.Theremainingsolids,
alsocalledthedigestate,arecomprisedofthematerialsnotdigestedbythebacteria.Thismaterialcan
benutrientrichandisusableasafertilizer.Forexample,thesoliddigestatefromDeerIslandWWTPis
processedandresoldasfertilizer.Inadditiontothesolidmaterials,theliquideffluentthatremains
afterdigestioncanalsocontainnutrients;iftoxiccontentisatacceptablelevels,thateffluentcanalso
beusedasafertilizer.
InordertomanagetheseprocesseswithinadigesterataWWTP,thedigestermustbeairtightand
maintaincertaintemperaturesdependingonthebacteriatype.Alldigestersoperateataminimumof
68degreesFahrenheittoencouragebacterialactivity,andtheoptimaloperatingtemperature
differentiatesthetwotypesofdigestionprocesses.Mesophilic(middletemperature)digestionoccurs
around98degreesFahrenheit.Thermophilic(hightemperature)digestionoccursathigher
temperatures.Ascomparedtothemesophilicprocess,thermophilicdigestionhasashortertotal
digestiontime,allowingdigestiontankvolumestobesignificantlysmaller;bothofthesecharacteristics
arepreferableatWWTPsasitreducesthelandareanecessarytohousethedigesters.Unfortunately,
fewertypesofbacteriathriveinthesehightemperatures,andthosethatdoaremoresensitiveto
temperaturefluctuations,makingthedigestionprocessmoredifficulttomanageandmaintain.
95
EnergySavers:HowAnaerobicDigestion(MethaneRecovery)Works.U.S.DepartmentofEnergy:Energy
EfficiencyandRenewableEnergy.June14,2010.
<http://www.energysavers.gov/your_workplace/farms_ranches/index.cfm/mytopic=30003>.
96
BioEnergyinOregon:BiogasTechnology.Oregon.gov.June14,2010.
<http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/Biomass/biogas.shtml>.
97
BiomassCombinedHeatandPowerCatalogofTechnologies.U.S.DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
CombinedHeatandPowerPartnership.September2007.
56
Mesophilicbacteriatypesaremoreabundantandcansurvivegreaterenvironmentaldisturbances.
Consequently,mesophilicprocessesaremoreprevalentinWWTPapplications.
Furthermore,ADincludesawiderangeoftechnologies,fromeggshapeddigesters(whichcanbeseen
atDeerIsland)tomembranebioreactors(suchasthatbyADISystems,Inc.).Inaddition,themixing
technologiescanalsovarydependingonthedigestershapeandsize,frommechanicalmixingtosludge
reinjection.98TheexactdigestertypeandsystemthatismostappropriateforagivenWWTPwillvary
fromcasetocaseandisdeterminedthroughthedesignprocessonceaplantchoosestoincorporateAD
intoitstreatmentprocess.
TechnologicalAdvancesinAD
AdvancementsinADtechnologiesrangeintheirapplicationfromthedigestersthemselvestothe
managementofthedigesters.Thissectionprovidesasnapshotofthetypesofadvancesthatare
emerging,manyofwhicharemoredevelopedandbettertestedinternationally.(NorthAmerica
currentlylagsbehindplaceslikeEuropeandAustraliaintheadoptionofADandCHP,andmany
examplesofsuccessfulimplementationcanbeeasilyfoundabroad.)Thisprogressincludesthe
developmentofentirelynewdigestiontechnologiesliketheanaerobicmembranebioreactorto
improvementsinthemanagementofbuildupwithinpipesleadingtoandfromdigesters.Increasingly
automatedcontrolsforADsystemshavealsofacilitatedtheiruse.Theultimateusefulnessofthese
developmentsvariesfromcasetocase.
Theanaerobicmembranebioreactor(ADIAnMBR)wasdevelopedbyADISystems,Inc.withKubota
Corporationforwastewatertreatment(ascomparedtoasludgeprocessthatoccursatamunicipal
WWTP).Thistechnologyemploysmembranesthataredirectlysubmergedintowastewatersand
produceseffluentthatishasvirtuallynosuspendedsolidsandisfarcleanerthantypicaldigestion
effluents.99ADIAnMBRhasbeenusedsuccessfullyinMarlborough,MAattheKensFood
manufacturingplant.TwoprimaryadvantagesoftheADIAnMBRsystemsetitapartfromconventional
ADsystems.First,itsfootprintcanhaspotentialtobedramaticallysmaller,requiringlessspaceatan
existingtreatmentplant.Second,thesemembranesareinserteddirectlyintowastewater,eliminating
thedewateringprocesswhileeffectivelytreatingthewater.Inaddition,thedigestionprocesstimeis
shortenedbecauseofhigherdigestionrates.ADIAnMBRhasprimarilybeenappliedinindustrialfood
wastesettingswithlowerflowvolumesandhigherorganiccontentconcentrations,alsoknownashigh
strengthorganiccontentwastewaterorhighstrengthfoodwaste.100
98
PhonecallwithDavidDuestofMWRA,ManagerofProcessControlatDeerIslandWastewaterTreatmentPlant.
March10,2010.
99
KensFoodsUtilizesAnaerobicMembraneBioreactortoGenerateBiogastoPowerWastewaterTreatment
PlantOperations.April13,2009.Grainnet.AccessedJune15,2010from
http://www.grainnet.com/article.php?ID=74034.
100
PersonalcommunicationwithScottChristianatADISystems,Inc.byShutsuWong.June15,2010.
57
WhileADsystemshavepotentialtobesmaller,asshownbyADISystems,thevolumesofwastewater
thatmustbetreatedandthelengthoftimethatwastewatermustremainwithinadigesterconstrains
howsmalldigesterscanbecome.And,ultimately,ADIAnMBRisapplieddirectlytothewastewater
unliketraditionalADthatisappliedtodewateredsludge.Thus,advancesinsizearelimited;asAlan
WellsofSEAConsultantsarticulated,Volumeisvolume.101Digestershavetobedesignedtoholdthe
amountofdewateredsludgethatpassesthroughaplantuntilthesludgehasbeendigested,andtheAD
technologycannotmodifytheamountofholdingspacenecessary.
ThedevelopmentoftechnologiestoaddresschallengesposedbytheuseofADgashasalsofacilitated
theadoptabilityofAD.Mostnotably,asADgasisnotpuremethanelikenaturalgasfromthepipeline,
thefuelgasmustbeconditionedbeforeitcanbeusedeffectivelyinaCHPsystem.Technological
advancesfordryingdigestergastopreventwatercondensation,theuseofbackupfuelstominimizethe
impactofinconsistentflowratesofdigestergas,andcarbonfilterstolimitsilicondioxidebuildupsare
allcomponentsoftheprocessthathavebeenrefined,enablingbetterefficienciesforinstalled
systems.102Strategiesformanagingstruvitebuildupinpipesleadingtwoandfromdigestershavealso
improvedthefunctionandefficiencyofdigestersandtheirassociatedsystems.
TwonewstrategiesforincreasingthemethaneproductivityoftheADprocessareultrasoniccell
bursting(amethodofenhancedcelllysis)andtheuseofcarbonadditives.SEAConsultants,a
Cambridgebasedconsultingandengineeringfirm,exploredtheuseofultrasoniccellburstingforthe
PittsfieldWWTP.AccordingtotheirfeasibilitystudyforPittsfield,ultrasoniccellburstingisanemerging
technologythatdestroysagreateramountofvolatileorganicsolids,thereforemakingmoreorganic
materialavailablefordigestionandsubsequentbiogasproduction.103Withtheappropriatecombination
ofnutrients,theadditionofcarboncanalsoenhancedigestion,accordingtoJamesJutras,WaterQuality
SuperintendentoftheVillageofEssexJunctionWWTPinVermont.104Whileliteraturesupportingthis
newpracticeislagging,successinpracticeatEssexJunctionsupportsthisclaim.105
101
PersonalcommunicationwithAlanWellsofSEAConsultantsbyShutsuWong.June11,2010.
102
CombinedHeatandPowerMarketPotentialforOpportunityFuels.(2004).ResourceDynamicsCorporation.
103
104
PersonalcommunicationwithJamesJutras,WaterQualitySuperintendentattheVillageofEssexJunction
WWTPinVermont,byShutsuWong.June22,2010.
105
PersonalcommunicationwithJamesJutras,WaterQualitySuperintendentattheVillageofEssexJunction
WWTPinVermont,byShutsuWong.June22,2010.
58
AppendixE:CombinedHeatandPowerSystemTypes
Gasturbines,whichrangefrom500kWto250MW,operateusingtheexpansionofcompressedairthat
movestheturbineblades,whichsubsequentlyproduceelectricity.106Fuelismixedwithcompressedair
andignited.Asthatairexpandsfromtheheatgeneratedbytheignitedfuel,theairdirectedthrough
theturbineblades.Themechanicalpowerfromtherotationoftheturbineisconvertedintoelectricity
throughagenerator.107Thermalenergyintheexhaustgascanalsoberecoveredforheatorsecondary
powergenerators.108Heatrecoverymaximizestheefficiencyofthesesystems.109
Microturbinesaresmallerversionsofgasturbinesandcanrangefrom30kWto250kW.110Becauseof
theirscalabilityandflexibilityinconnectionmethods,microturbinesareparticularlywellsuitedfor
distributedgeneration.111Likegasturbines,heatcanalsoberecoveredforproductiveuse.Bothgas
turbinesandmicroturbinesaresensitivetothequalityofitsfuelsource;digestergascontainsavariety
ofcontaminantsincludingsiloxanesandhydrogensulfidesthatcancorrodetheturbines,whichmustbe
removedfromthegasbeforeuse.112
Steamturbinesconvertenergyfromhightemperatureandhighpressuresteam;steamproducedbya
boilerdrivesageneratorthatproduceselectricity.113Withsteam(anditsboiler)astheintermediary
betweenthefuelsourceandelectricitygeneration,steamturbineshaveaddedflexibilityintermsofthe
fueltypesthatcanbeaccepted.114Thus,whenusedwithdigestergas,lessconditioningofthegasis
necessarytoprepareitforusebythesteamturbinesystem.Steamturbineshaveawiderangeofsizes,
from50kWto250MW.115
106
107
TechnologyCharacterization:GasTurbines.EnergyandEnvironmentalAnalysis.December2008.
108
109
110
TechnologyCharacterization:Microturbines.EnergyandEnvironmentalAnalysis.December2008.
111
TechnologyCharacterization:Microturbines.EnergyandEnvironmentalAnalysis.December2008.
112
PersonalcommunicationwithJoanFontaineofSEAConsultantsbyShutsuWongonJune15,2010.
113
BiomassCombinedHeatandPowerCatalogofTechnologies.U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,
114
115
59
Reciprocatinginternalcombustionenginesarethemostcommonsmallscalestationarypower
generationsystem,foundinmanyapplicationssuchasautomobiles,trucksandtrains.116Thesesystems
containapistonandcylinderwherefourstrokes(intake,compression,power,exhaust)completethe
powercycle,andthroughtheignitionofthefuelduringthecompressionstroke,thepowerstrokedrives
energygenerationasthecompressedairandfuelareexpandedduringcombustion.117Thesizeof
reciprocatingenginesrangesfrom10kWto5MW.118TheWWTPinFairhaven,MAwillbeinstallingan
internalcombustionenginefortheCHPsystem;theplantelectedtousethisengineovernewer
technologieslikemicroturbinesbecauseofitslongerhistoryandtrackrecord.119
FuelcellsarearelativelynewCHPtechnologythathashighefficienciesandlowemissions,120butisstill
undergoingfurtherdevelopment.121Theirsizecanrangeanywherefrom50wattsto2MWdepending
ontheapplication.122Concernsoverhighcostsanddurabilitycurrentlylimittheiruse.123Furthermore,
forapplicationataWWTP,veryhighlevelsoffuelconditioningarenecessarytoadequatelypreparethe
digestergasforusebythissensitivesystem.124TheNewYorkPowerAuthoritywasthefirstto
successfullyuseafuelcellwithADgasin1997usingUTCPowersPureCellModel200attheYonkers
WastewaterTreatmentPlant.125Sincethen,UTCPowerhasdiscontinuedtheir200kWfuelcellandno
longerprovidesanyfuelcellsforusewithdigestergas.FuturemarketstudiesarenecessarybeforeUTC
Powerwillconsiderfurtherdevelopmentoffuelcellsforusewithbiogas.126Despiteseveralsuccessful
116
TechnologyCharacterization:ReciprocatingEngines.EnergyandEnvironmentalAnalysis.December2008.
117
118
119
PersonalCommunicationwithBillFitzgeraldfromFairhavenWWTPbyShutsuWong.July2,2010.
120
121
PersonalcommunicationwithJoanFontaineatSEAConsultantsbyShutsuWong.June15,2010.
122
123
124
PersonalcommunicationwithJoanFontaineatSEAConsultantsbyShutsuWong.June15,2010.
125
CreatingCleanPowerwithFreeFuelfromAnaerobicDigesterGaswiththePureCellModel200FuelCell
Powerplant.UTCPower.January24,2007.
<http://www.utcfuelcells.org/fs/com/Attachments/project_profiles/PP0107_NYPA2.pdf>.
126
PersonalcommunicationwithGeorgeBrandtofUTCPowerbyShutsuWongonJune21,2010.
60
applicationsintheUnitedStates,additionalworkandstudieswillbenecessarybeforethesesystemswill
bewidelyusedforCHPinconjunctionwithdigestergas.
LastlyStirlingengines,whichareeffectivelyreciprocatingenginesthatoperateonthetemperature
differentialsoneitherendofapiston,aredriven,byexternalcombustion.127Becauseoperationis
dependentonthetemperaturedifferences,coolingmustalsooccurtomaintainthissystem.128Stirling
enginesarewellsuitedforbiogasbecausetheyaredrivenbyexternalcombustion;thischaracteristic
allowsmoreflexibilityinthefuelqualityandcleanliness.Thistechnologyisstillunderdevelopmentand
beingconsideredforresidentialapplications.129Relativelysmall,Stirlingenginesystemsaresmaller
than200kW.130
TechnologicalAdvancesinCHP
CHPtechnologiesareconstantlyevolvingasdemandforrenewableenergysourcesincreases.Within
therealmofCHP,thetwomostprominentadvancesarethedevelopmentofmicroturbinesandthe
introductionoffuelcells.Inaddition,theuseofStirlingenginesisalsoanemergingarea.
MicroturbinesarestillconsideredrelativelynewinCHPapplications,andparticularly,forusewith
digestergas.Theseturbinescanbeassmallas30kWandconsequentlyopentheapplicationofCHPto
wastewatertreatmentplantsthataresmallerthanmanyplantsthatcurrentlyemployCHP.For
example,EssexJunctioninVermonthassuccessfullyinstalledandusedtwo30kWmicroturbinesfor
their2.0MGDflow,aplantsizethatwaspreviouslyconsideredtoosmallforproductiveuseofdigester
gas.131Furthermore,thereisanelementofscalability,wherethenumberofturbinescanbeadjustedto
suitthevolumeofwastewaterpassingthroughaplantasneeded.Again,inEssexJunction,theplantis
nowexploringtheadditionofanotherturbinesinceitspowergenerationcapacityhasbeenreached.132
Fuelcellscontinuetoundergodevelopment,asthetechnologyisstillrelativelynewandhasnotbeen
testedlongterm.Asdiscussedearlier,theNewYorkPowerAuthorityinstalledeightfuelcellsfromUTC
127
128
129
Roth,Kurt,Targoff,J.,Brodrick,J.UsingStirlingEnginesforResidentialCHP.AmericanSocietyofHeating,
RefridgeratingandAirConditioningEngineers,Inc.Journal.November2008.
130
131
132
PersonalcommunicationwithJoanFontaineofSEAConsultantsbyShutsuWong.June15,2010.
61
Powerthatoperateondigestergas;sincethen,UTChasdiscontinuedthesefuelcells,demonstratingthe
needforfurtherdevelopmentandmarketassessment.Withthefirstsuccessfulinstallationofafuelcell
in1997,thelongtermstudyoftheirperformanceisjustbeginningtoemerge.Inaddition,duetohigh
costsatthemoment,fuelcellsareprimarilyadoptedwhensignificantgrantsareavailabletomakethese
projectsfinanciallyfeasible.133
Inadditiontothefuelcelldrivenbydigestergas,otherfuelcellapplicationsarepossibleforelectricity
generation.Forexample,IntActLabsofCambridge,MAisintheprocessofdevelopingamicrobialfuel
cellwherethecellgenerateselectricitydirectlyfromwastesludgewithouttheintermediaryofdigester
gas.Whilestillunderdevelopment,suchtechnologiesmayofferanalternativeforplantsthatmaynot
havethecapitalorphysicalspacetodevotetofullscaledigestersandCHPsystems.Essentially,this
typeofmicrobialfuelcellpermitstheWWTPtoskipastep.But,thepracticalapplicationofsucha
systemanditscosts,particularlyforuseatmunicipalwastewatertreatmentplantshasyettobe
developedandtested.
Lastly,asdiscussedearlier,StirlingenginesarearelativelynewCHPtypethatisstillundergoingtesting
andhasnotbeenappliedforwastewatertreatment.Mostnotably,Stirlingenginesprovidethree
advantages:reducednoiseandvibrations,flexibilityinfuelsourcesduetoanexternalcombustion
systemandloweremissions.Atthemoment,thetechnologyisnotyetcompetitivedespiteits
advantages.
CHPsystemscanbeasingletechnologyoracombinationoftechnologies,allowingthemtotake
advantageofacombinationofsystemcharacteristics.Forexample,inPortland,Oregon,theColumbia
BoulevardWastewaterTreatmentplantsuccessfullyinstalleda200kWfuelcellin1998,andin2003,
installedfour30kWmicroturbinesforadditionalpowergenerationusingsurplusdigestergas.134
Another1,500kWcapacityisbeingconsideredfortheremainingexcessgas.135
133
PersonalcommunicationwithChristineBrinkerofIntermountainCHPApplicationCenterbyShutsuWong.June
22,2010.
134
135
62

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Tapping the Energy Potential of Municipal

Wastewater Treatment: Anaerobic Digestion

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

MassDEP TomBroderick,IntermountainCHP MickeyNowak,Superintendent,

DougBogardi,OperationsManager, Engineer,SEAConsultants Superintendent,ClintonWastewater

ChristineBrinker,Intermountain RichardHogan,ExecutiveDirector, WaterEnvironmentResearch

Tapping the Energy Potential of Municipal Wastewater Treatment:

Figure 1: Pittsfield Financial Anaylsis on Cash Flow Basis

Figure 3: MA WWTPs with unused, existing digesters35

Figure 4: EBMUD's Food Scraps Processing System62

Figure 5: Food Waste vs. Wastewater Solids Comparison64

Figure 6: Johnstown Industrial Park and Connections to the WWTP72

Figure 7: 2005-2006 Biosolids Use/Disposal in MA (dry tons/year)

Figure 8: Municipal Solid Waste Sent to Landfill, 200782

Active WWTP Digesters

Inactive WWTP Digesters

Inactive WWTP Digesters !!

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