Small Population COGEN from Water Treatment

The City of Brockville’s population is less than what is usually required (30,000) to make cogeneration economically feasible in a municipal setting. This small population cogeneration project study will take advantage of the secondary wastewater treatment process and local septage to generate heat and electricity at its new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), currently at the planning stage. By using digester gas to generate heat and electricity to meet the requirements of the WWTP, the cogeneration system will reduce or eliminate the WWTP’s need for energy produced from fossil fuels. Cogeneration technology alternatives will be evaluated based on criteria including efficiency, workability, payback period, capital costs, standby capability and peaking capability. The acceptance of septage would add also additional methane that could help make the cogeneration system economically viable. The cogeneration system will reduce direct emissions from the methane produced by the wastewater sludge and septage; indirect emissions will be reduced from the displacement of a fossil fuel based energy source. Additionally, local septage receiving capabilities would eliminate the need for septage transportation to municipal treatment facilities in the Cities of Ottawa and Kingston, drastically reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with transportation.