Is Zero-Energy Wastewater Treatment On The Horizon?

Jim Porteous, VP and general manager of the North American municipal market for Ovivo, sits down with Water Online Radio to discuss the “dream” of net-zero energy, which Ovivo is working to make a reality for municipalities.

Here is a snippet of the conversation…

Water Online Radio: The idea – the dream – of net-zero energy is intriguing. Tell us about it.

Jim Porteous: Ovivo sees energy costs as one of the big challenges in the industry. We are looking at different ways we can reduce energy and, in fact, go for a zero-energy situation.

What we are doing is utilizing the gas from anaerobic systems and converting that into electricity, then using that to power the rest of the systems. The trick is to make the anaerobic system as efficient as possible, to get the maximum amount of gas production from the biomass.

What we have now is an energy hog. Aeration equipment, generally, is not efficient, and what is happening is we are just pumping energy into the system. What we have got to do is change the thought process.

Water Online Radio: Funding continues to be a major issue with municipalities. Speak to all the different things that Ovivo is doing to help address that issue.

Jim Porteous: What we have to do is be creative and provide cities with solutions where they can get a two-year payback as a minimum; or a three-year payback by upgrading the aeration system or replacing inefficient equipment with more efficient equipment. That is a big thrust for us.

To hear the full interview, click on the Radio Player above.