Application of advanced control to improve water quality and increase energy efficiency has long been a goal of water
utilities. With the widespread implementation of distributed control systems, and especially centralized supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) in the
water sector, beginning in the 1980s, utilities had the technical tools to begin to realize this objective. In the U.S., an
estimated three percent of all electricity production is consumed by water and wastewater systems, with more than 90%
of the energy purchased being used for pumping. A prudent utility will make every effort to specify and install the most
energy efficient pumps for the application, as well as to operate pumps in the most cost efficient manner possible.
Climate change is an issue of growing international concern. Many governments and organizations have recognized this
and are now seeking ways to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), in particular carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>).
Generation of electricity through fossil fuels or coal burning plants are prime contributors to GHG emissions. It follows
that if a water utility desires to minimize its carbon footprint, one way to do so would be to reduce net energy
consumption through operation of pumps at greater efficiencies. An energy management system (EMS), if properly
designed can supplement the SCADA system to enable plant operations and planning personnel to both reduce their
electricity bills and to minimize total energy consumption, thereby resulting in a net reduction in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.
This paper describes four case studies of energy management systems in the U.S. and the impact each of these have had
on reducing the carbon footprint of the respective water utility. The process of estimating the impact based on energy
efficiency measurement, followed by analysis of each state's energy production and fuel mix, is presented as well as the
results achieved following the first full year of operation. Includes 6 references, tables, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 2.7 MB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 33 |
| Published : | 11/01/2008 |
