As part of our mission in enhancing the quality of our community and protecting the environment, we have implemented a cutting-edge microgrid system to help power some of our largest facilities. This includes the installation of floating solar panels on the Water Pollution Control Plant’s wet weather storage ponds.
This innovative Microgrid system is one of only a few in the country for water and sewer utilities. After years of research, our engineers implemented this system to ensure lower energy and electricity costs, in addition to boosting reliability for the future.
By Year 40, we project to save nearly $60-70 million in electricity costs.
The microgrid system will connect our facilities (Water Pollution Control Plant, Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant, Wet Weather Pump Stations) and help distribute power efficiently since the facilities peak at different times using solar panels, battery storage and natural gas. The floating solar panels in our wet weather ponds are the second largest in the U.S.
Our Commitment to You
This project is a long-term investment that will provide many benefits to the residents of Fort Wayne. As part of staying committed to our environmental and sustainability efforts, this project is aimed at helping customer energy costs and allows us to be fully prepared for natural disasters. This renewable energy technology will help us promote a better quality of life to the community.
Up Close: The Microgrid System
Our Microgrid system combines floating solar panels, battery energy storage and both methane and natural gas to power our largest facilities.
A Microgrid is a small network of power users with a local source of supply that is often attached to a centralized national grid, but can also function independently.
The Microgrid monitors the combined power usage between our facilities including:
- Three Rivers Water Filtration Plant
- Water Pollution Control Plant
- Wet Weather Pump Station (located at the wet weather ponds)
The Microgrid will analyze the most cost-effective power generation for the day and combine it with Biogas produced from high-strength food waste and natural gas engines to help aid in the utilities’ renewable energy generation, while also preparing us for weather-related complications.
Wet Weather Pump Station
The wet weather ponds are intended to store excess water that the filtration plant cannot treat. The wet weather pump station collects excess water passing through the tunnel and other outlets and holds it when the ponds are at max capacity. Once the filtration plant can treat more water, the pump station then releases the water its holding into the ponds.
Floating solar panels generate about 15% more power than land-based systems.
Our facilities use about 38.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. The average home in the US uses about 10,000 kWh annually. Our Microgrid system will help generate the electricity needed to power our community through environmentally friendly sources such solar panels and natural Biogas.
The wet weather ponds houses almost 12,000 floating solar panels. They will generate about 9 million kWh annually. The natural Biogas will add another 7 million kWh. These renewable sources will provide over 40% of the power needed to run our facilities, which is enough to power 1,500 homes each year.
What is Biogas?
The Biogas used to help power our facilities comes from high caloric waste around the city. This can include food waste, grease, sludge and other waste high in calories that serve no purpose wasting away in the environment.
The waste is then brought to the pollution control plant and placed in the digestors (pictured right). Here, bacteria breaks down the waste and turns it into gas that can then be used to help power our facilities.
The Microgrid system will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4,600 tons annually. This is equivalent to the emissions from 1,161 gasoline-powered vehicles.
Awards & Recognition
2024 Indiana Green Project of the Year – Accelerate Indiana Municipalities
2024 Utility of the Future Today – Water Environment Federation (WEF), North Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), The Water Research Foundation, US Water Alliance, and WaterReuse
2024 National Environmental Achievement Award for Public Service by an Elected Official – Presented to the late Mayor Tom Henry in February 2024 by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies