West County Wastewater’s Energy Infrastructure Upgrades

The Challenge

Meet sustainability goals with comprehensive energy, infrastructure, and process improvements

Project Overview

West County Wastewater serves several communities in Northern California’s Richmond area. The organization partnered with Opterra to implement the Clean and Green Project, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs.

Key Benefits

Energy

• 450 kW cogeneration system powered by biogas
• 1.1 MW of onsite solar power generation
• LED lighting retrofit

Savings

• $83 million in savings over the life of the program
• 93% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
• 4.2 million kWh reduction in energy use per year

Community

• Three paid internships for local high school and college students
• Educational materials and community engagement initiatives

Energy Assessment and Strategy

The project began with an evaluation of the wastewater treatment facilities. Opterra recommended comprehensive energy infrastructure and process improvements to enhance efficiency and sustainability. To build resiliency, a microgrid integrates multiple onsite energy resources to provide power during utility grid outages. The project team redesigned the district’s solid-handling system to generate Class A biosolids, creating a new revenue stream and reducing landfill waste.

Implementation and Funding

The Clean and Green Project includes plant improvements and a 20-year energy savings performance contract with Opterra. The project guarantees $83 million in savings over its lifetime.