New York Biogas Study Group Boosting Biogas Production at Wastewater Treatment Plants May 21, 2015 Richard J. Lyons – Executive Director, ACSD Albany County Sewer District South Wastewater Treatment Plant Regional Source Separated Organic to Energy Facility Anaerobic Digestion South Plant Ø  29 MGD permitted, Conventional Activated Sludge, 45 MGD peak flow Ø  32 acres of property Ø  At the cross roads of interstates, 787, 87 and 90 Ø  Next to the Port of Albany Ø  Albany Port Railroad adjacent to the west side of plant Ø  Plant hydraulically at capacity, organically significantly below design loadings (capacity for side stream treatment TBD) Existing Solids Handling Ø  Dewatering via 1.5 meter, Belt Filter Presses Ø  Ultimate Disposal via Multiple Hearth Incineration Ø  Why change? 1.  2.  3.  4.  5.  6.  7.  Aging infrastructure, Incinerators in operation 41 years EPA Sewage Sludge Incinerator Rule UTOTF Initiative, Zero Net Energy Utility Goal Regional Environmental and Economic Benefit Political Motivation, County Legislature Resolution no. 364 of October 12, 2010, Waste to Energy Initiative Baseline organics , Sewage sludge and FOG Location, location, location Pilot Study with Spectrum Bioenergy Ø  Ø  Ø  Ø  Ø  Six month study that commenced in January 2012 using Spectrum Bioenergy’s anaerobic digester Bio-Beetle System Main purpose of pilot study was to investigate co-digestion of mixed waste streams to determine biogas yields The project successfully demonstrated higher biogas / energy yields when sewage sludge is co-digested with high energy waste, such as residential food waste, bakery waste and fats oils and grease (FOG) Highest gas yields were a ratio of 5:4:1 of sewage sludge + bakery + FOG Partners supplying feed stocks: City of Watervliet, Price Chopper Supermarkets, BIMBO Bakeries and Baker Commodities (FOG) Full Scale Feasibility Study Ø  Ø  1.  2.  3.  4.  5.  Ø  Ø  The feasibility report was finalized in November 2013 and presented to the Board of Commissioners, Legislature and the County Executive’s office in January 2014 The report concluded the project is: Technically feasible Regulatory feasible Provides environmental benefit Provides economic benefit Provides community benefit Projected digester feed stocks included: Sewage sludge – 9.8 D.T. / Day FOG - .2 D.T. / Day Food Waste – 6.8 D.T. / Day Projected Combined Heat and Power – 1.0 Megawatt Project Development Ø  Retained owners representative to provide technical, legal and financial model support Financing: Ø  Public Private Combination / P3 Ø  Procurement alternatives: Traditional – Design, Bid, Build Performance Based Contracting, Energy law Article 9 NY GML 120-W, Solid Waste Management and Disposal Land Lease Agreement Hybrid / P3 Ø  SEQRA, Permitting and Environmental Justice Robust Public Participation South Site in an E.J. Area Ø  Issue Project to Developers late 2015 allowing latitude / nonprescriptive options Feed Stock / Food Waste Ø  Ø  Ø  Ø  Ø  Ø  Ø  Ø  95 tons a day available within 60 mile radius of South Plant Letters of support from University at Albany and Union College If you build it will they come?? (we hear they will !!) Area Supermarkets interest Area bakeries interest Regional waste haulers interest Numerous commercial facilities interest Sewer District experience as a merchant disposal facility “Protecting Public Health and the Water Environment”