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Energy, Water, North America, United States, Government
Energy + Water
Cogeneration at Columbia Boulevard
Wastewater Treatment Plant Conserves Energy, Saves Money
Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) was actively seeking ways to be more sustainable by generating renewable energy at the Columbia Boulevard wastewater treatment plant. Today, the plant is successfully producing and beneficially using its digester gas (biogas).
Since startup of the new facilities, the plant has purchased approximately 40 percent less power than in previous years.
Partnering with BES, we provided Columbia Boulevard with new cogeneration facilities and replaced the plant’s fuel cell. The new facilities—which provide 1.7 megawatts of power—center on two 850-kilowatt internal combustion engine generators, equipped with the latest in lean-burn technology. Since startup of the new facilities, the plant has purchased approximately 40 percent less power than in previous years.
We assisted with the procurement and design of the two engine generators. The design included a 600-standard-cubic-feet-per-minute digester gas treatment system to remove moisture, hydrogen sulfide, siloxanes and particulates, as well as condition and compress the gas for efficient engine operations. The design integrated the engine generators with the plant’s existing electrical system and incorporated the engine exhaust and jacket water systems into the plant’s hot water loop for heat recovery.
The Columbia Boulevard wastewater treatment plant received the Public Technology Institute’s 2008-2009 Technology Solutions Award for Sustainability.
