NOVI Energy LLC (NOVI) was contracted by the City of Fort Wayne to provide an in-depth evaluation of energy cost saving options. City of Fort Wayne was planning to upgrade their Water Pollution Control (WPC) Plant. As part of this effort, NOVI evaluated options for better utilization of biogas produced in their anaerobic sludge digesters.

One option involved upgrading biogas to increase its energy content and purifying to pipeline quality specifications. The upgraded gas could then be fired in on-site boilers to offset natural gas purchase or supplied to others for off-site uses. NOVI’s effort included defining project parameters, defining equipment options for gas upgrade, estimating engineering procurement, and construction (EPC) costs, and performing an economic evaluation to estimate cost savings by implementing this option.

A second option involved combusting the biogas at the wastewater treatment plant to generate electricity and steam that could be used for heating or cooling via a steam absorption chiller. NOVI’s effort included evaluating the economics of installing a combined heat and power (CHP) plant based on the quantity and quality of gas produced. Since additional gas production was expected after the City upgraded their digesters, the combined heat and power (CHP) system included multiple units such that future increases in biogas availability can be monetized through additional CHP units. NOVI team completed the assessment by defining project parameters, understanding CHP equipment options, estimating engineering, procurement and construction costs as well as performing an economic analysis to estimate energy benefits or cost savings if the CHP option is implemented.

Client: Ft. Wayne, Indiana