Progress 09/01/20 to 04/30/22

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target market consists of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that already have anaerobic digesters (and therfore biogas production.) The American Biogas Council estimates that there are approximately 1000 WWTP with a flow rate between 1 and 100 MGD. Within this market, our team focused on the smaller WWTPs located in rural communites. These facilities will accept material in the range of 10 MGD. An additional criteria for candiate WWTP facilities are those paying high demand charges for their electrical service during peak hours. These faciliites are mostly located in the northeast and the upper midwest where utilities have aging infrastructure. Changes/Problems:Overall, our Phase I project goalwas to find the best use for biogas produced at rural WWTPs. Our team used financial measurements such as Return on Investment (ROI) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) because ROI/IRR are the metrics used by decision makers to prioritize purchases. Our team found only modest financials for electrical production in the hybrid/peak-shaving. For smaller WWTPs such as those in rural areas, the high capital cost of generators and batteries dominated the financial calculations, even for areas with high demand charges. Our market assessment showed that for those WWTPs that have installed renewables, generous subsidies (state and/or Federal) were needed to purchase capital equipment. Based on the tepid financials for electrical production, our team also looked at upgrading biogas to Renenewable Natural Gas (RNG) for sale to voluntary marketsor to meet state renewable fuel goals. We found that the Carbon Intensity (CI) for WWTP biogas was in the range of 20-40 gCO2e/MJ. Market demand for RNG (while volatile) is much stronger than for electricity and future demand is likely to occur.Phase I developed Carbon Intensity models for WWTPs, and also looked at how to manage the cost accounting for RNG'senergy and environmental attributes What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our team sought to reach out to a number of operators of WWTPs to assess interest. This is part of the Quantalux philosophy to discuss new product development as early in the process as possible (our version of "customer discovery"). The response was unfortunately very disappointing. Our team emailed and called operators in numerous locations with virtually no response. The market interest for RNG is much more robust. Utilities and voluntary programs are seeking RNG from organic wastes. Our team researched how utilities and states determine their financials so that the market can be better understood. We also developed basic pro forma models for RNG production. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Quantalux team completed all tasks listed in the Phase I proposal. The following table lists these tasks. A comprehensive Final Report will be sent to the NIFA SBIR office. Task # Description Status Comment Task 1 Identify load profiles and major electrical loads Complete Creation of databases using 15-minute load data from Flint and Linden WWTPs Task 2 ID and size candidate technologies for biogas generators, storage, grid-scale batteries, and solar arrays Complete Identified equipment vendors and model numbers/prices for key equipment. Task 3 Model Charge/Discharge Scenarios Complete Built a comprehensive analysis tool to model different combinations of generators, batteries and solar. Task 4 Define System Topology and Interconnections Modified & Completed Design P&ID drawings for electrical generator and RNG production facility Task 5 Business Case Analysis (BCA) Modified & Completed Electrical scenario BCA included in analysis tool . Pro forma modeling developed for RNG production. Task 6 Assess Environmental Benefits Modified & Completed GREET modeling developed to determine Carbon Intensity of RNG facilities at WWTPs and dairies

Publications

Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21

Outputs
Target Audience:The goal of this SBIR project is to develop a renewable power solution using biogas from rural wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Many WWTPs treat the incoming organic waste material using anaerobic digestion, which naturally produces biogas. in most cases, this biogas is flared, but could be captured and used to generate electricity for the plant's own use. By offsetting electricity purchases from the utility, the WWTP can save significant dollars on their utility bill, and will also decrease emissions of harmful greenhouse gases. Rural WWTPs are typically smaller and have limited resources. The Hybrid Power Skid is a modular power solution designed to maximize the value of the available biogas by delivering renewable electricity to the WWTP during peak periods (typically midday). During off peak periods when utility power is less expensive, biogas is stored until the next peak period. Batteries (powered by solar or off-peak electricity) augment the available power. Our strategy shortens the Return-on-Investment (ROI) and allows even smaller WWTPs to afford the Hybrid Power Skid. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, the team will select preferred subsystems, and then develop a preliminary design. This design will be modeled for performance (in terms of energy production and cost-savings). The pro forma model will be populated with costs to provide a sense of the financial benefits offered by the Hybrid Power Skid to rural wastewater plants.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? To date, the Quantalux team has been focused on gathering more detailed information on electrical load profiles at wastewater plants. We have acquired 15 minute interval load data from several treatment plants, and anticipate more data later this month. We have created a software package that will analyze these large data sets with the goal of identifying predictable peaks in electrical load. The team has also been gathering data on individual subsystems such as generators, batteries, gas storage media and electrical interfaces. This data will be used during the design of the pilot-scale Hybrid Power Skid. Cost data has also been included in the data sets. The team has developed an initial pro forma model to predict the financial viability of the HPS. Once the design package is complete, data on CapX and OpX can be used in the pro forma to calculated IRR and NPV.

Publications