One of the projects I've been working on the last year is a cooperative effort with the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) to install a permanent co-digestion facility at the wastewater treatment plant in Elk Grove. Co-digestion allows for more direct digestion of fats, oils and grease waste (affectionately known as "FOG") and liquid food processing waste with sewage sludge, which will help increase the renewable biogas generated at the plant.
Most people really don't want to think about what happens after they flush (the picture is a tiny clue to how complex the process is). But the reality is that this is a very cost-effective way to use existing public infrastructure to expand our local base of sustainable energy supply options. SMUD applied for the Department of Energy (DOE) funding as part of our Community Renewable Energy Deployment (CRED) program and we are passing funds straight through to SRCSD to support construction -- which is now underway! The California Energy Commission is matching funding as well. When complete, companies that now have to truck their waste long distances will have a local disposal option, so we'll also be taking trucks off the road. Solar and wind grab all the headlines, but to some of us...sludge is sexy, too.
You can track the progress of the project here: http://www.srcsd.com/bio-gas.php
- KA
No comments:
Post a Comment