GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The award-winning City of Grand Rapids Environmental Services Department (ESD) has been nationally recognized for its exceptional performance of its Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) in the 2022 Utility of the Future (UOTF) Today Recognition Program.
The UOTF focuses on water utilities that are engaged in forward-thinking resource recovery in their communities. Honorees are selected based on growing an organizational culture with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that supports advancements in several areas, including energy generation and recovery.
In 2017, economic expansion and increased development in various industries in Grand Rapids, including food processing and breweries, projected that customer growth would exceed the capacity of the WRRF within the next few years. This projection caused the City to explore biodigestion as a sustainable solution to manage the increase.
While the biodigester implementation would help manage municipal solids and high-strength wastes, the ESD also saw an opportunity to include renewable natural gas (RNG) and combined heat and power (CHP) systems to increase energy efficiency and further reduce its carbon footprint.
The City constructed three biodigestion tanks, each with a capacity of 1.4 million gallons. Microorganisms inside the tanks decrease solids and convert carbon to methane, resulting in a 40% reduction sent to landfill. The RNG system recovers the methane, or biogas, and upgrades it to a pipeline quality gas. This gas is then injected into DTE Energy’s pipeline where it is used by the Rapid, the local public transportation system. The CHP system captures thermal energy that would normally be lost during traditional power generation. As a result, two CHP engines produce 2.6 megawatts of energy that is used to power the WRRF.
This system helps operate the facility at increased energy efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“We had to overcome many reservations to get the support of city leaders and the community, starting with the $85 million price tag” said ESD Assistant Manager Charles Schroeder, P.E., “however, after explaining the benefits to the environment, the energy efficiency, and the ability to offset costs through the generation of power and gas, we received enthusiastic support from a myriad of stakeholders.”
James Hurt, managing director for the Public Services Group, added, “Being recognized as a Utility of the Future Today is a huge indicator that we chose to move in the right direction. We are excited to continue these efforts of creating a sustainable future for the community.”
On October 11, ESD was honored for this recognition, along with 34 others, at the Water Environment Federation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) in New Orleans.
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