ID:
publications-4750
Type:
article
Year:
2023
Authors:
Bolorinos, Jose and Mauter, Meagan S. and Rajagopal, Ram
Title:
Integrated Energy Flexibility Management at Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Venue/Journal:
Environmental science & technology
DOI:
10.1021/acs.est.3c00365
Research type:
Water System:
Technical Focus:
Abstract:
On-site batteries, low-pressure biogas storage, and wastewater storage could position wastewater resource recovery facilities as a widespread source of industrial energy demand flexibility. This work introduces a digital twin method that simulates the coordinated operation of current and future energy flexibility resources. We combine process models and statistical learning on 15 min resolution sensor data to construct a facility's energy and water flows. We then value energy flexibility interventions and use an iterative search algorithm to optimize energy flexibility upgrades. Results from a California facility with anaerobic sludge digestion and biogas cogeneration predict a 17\% reduction in electricity bills and an annualized 3\% return on investment. A national analysis suggests substantial benefit from using existing flexibility resources, such as wet-weather storage, to reduce electricity bills but finds that new energy flexibility investments are much less profitable in electricity markets without time-of-use incentives and plants without existing cogeneration facilities. Profitability of a range of energy flexibility interventions may increase as a larger number of utilities place a premium on energy flexibility, and cogeneration is more widely adopted. Our findings suggest that policies are needed to incentivize the sector's energy flexibility and provide subsidized lending to finance it.
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