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Project: 827070 Algae Digestibility Study
Origination Year: 2007-08
Planned Completion Year: 2010-11
Department: Public Works
Project Description / Scope / Purpose
Project Information Sheet
Type: Wastewater
Category: Special
Project Manager: Lorrie Gervin
Fund: 465 Wastewater Management Fund
Sub-Fund: 300 Wastewater Infrastructure Subfund
Project Coordinator: Joanna De Sa
The purpose of this project is to support several research projects related to algae as an energy source. These studies include:
• Digestibility of algae, for production of more methane in the plant digesters
• Measuring methane emissions from the ponds where algae are produced. Methane is a strong greenhouse gas, and determining how much methane is released from the ponds is a critical
component of assessing the sustainability of the pond process for long-term secondary treatment at the plant, and thus whether algae would continue to be available as an energy source.
• Evaluating other methods of converting the biomass of algae into usable energy.
Algae is generated in large quantities in the oxidation ponds as part of the treatment process. In the past algae has been sent back to the ponds, where it partially breaks down but also accumulates at
the bottom of the ponds. Another option is to route the algae to the digesters, where theory says it would generate additional methane. However, in practice this has not been an effective process.
Project Evaluation and Analysis
Effective digestion of algae has the potential to provide significant cost-savings through production of methane and the resultant avoided costs for purchase of natural gas and/or electricity to power
the plant. In addition, current supplies of landfill gas used to produce electricity are declining as the material in the closed landfill is biodegraded. Information obtained from these studies will be
included in the Strategic Infrastructure Plan for the plant and will also help identify other opportunities for beneficial use of the algae that are produced as a by-product of the treatment process.
Fiscal Impact
This project was previously approved for WPCP staff to commission the study. However, the energy field is currently seeing increased activity, and WPCP staff have been approached by a number
of entities interested in conducting studies on our ponds and the algae they produce. These entities include NASA, Cal Poly, the Water Environment Research Foundation, as well as consultants
and energy start-up companies. Typically these studies involve some grant funding, and local participation is requested through funding or in-kind services. This project would provide the local
share for these studies, some of which have been initiated, and some of which have been submitted in proposal form for grant funding.
Project Financial Summary
Financial Data Prior
Actual
Project Costs
Revenues
Total
Transfers-In
Total
Operating Costs
Current 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 Y11-Y20
2009-10
Total
Project
Life Total
0 40,000 20,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 60,000
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0
Algae Digestibility Study 827070