A Microgrid is small electrical network that can work indecently or in connection with a main power grid can. It can consist of solar panels, batteries, generators in order to power buildings, neighborhoods or even communities.
Our Microgrid System was developed to maintain customer energy costs and help prepare the city for natural disasters. this project is crucial in powering up our water treatment facilities in a way that’s sustainable for our current customers and ensures quality for future generations.
Our Microgrid System combines floating solar panels, battery energy storage and both methane and natural gas to power our largest facilities including
- Three Rivers Filtration Plant
- Water Pollution Control Plant
- Wet Weather Pump Station
The wet weather ponds house more than 12,000 Microgrid solar panels that will provide majority of the average daily power needed to run the facilities during peak sunlight hours. The battery storage system will be used during cloudy and low sunlight hours.
For the most cost-effective energy generation, the system will combine with the Biogas produced at the Water Pollution Control Plant to help amplify the utilities renewable energy-generation capabilities.
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..
Wet Weather Pump Station
Wet weather pump stations help route water from one location to the other. Flows will be routed to the wet weather storage ponds, then brought back to the Filtration plant to be treated. Expansions on our ponds help keep 2.5 billion gallons of water out of the Maumee River, preventing overflow.
Biogas is produced from household sewage & high-strength food waste and natural gas engines to help generate renewable energy through the Microgrid system. This process is similar to food composting.
The Process
Biogas production starts at the Water Pollution Control Plant. Trucks bring in tanks worth of food waste and sludge, that would essentially be wasting space in landfill. Waste is brought in from local businesses and other corporations in the Midwest region.
Once waste is brought to the plant, it is then sent to the digestors where it will undergo anaerobic digestion*. The digestors has microorganisms that will breakdown organic material and produce biogas (methane) which can be used to generate heat and electricity through a combined heat and power (CHP) system.
*Anaerobic digestion is when microorganisms break down organic matter where oxygen lacks. It’s a form of organic recycling. Animal and human waste, food waste, fats, greases and other food and industrial manufacturer waste that has no use for landfills can go through this process and produce renewable energy. To learn more, visit https://www.epa.gov/anaerobic-digestion/basic-information-about-anaerobic-digestion.
