“Power from the People” Albany County Sewer District Combined Heat and Power Project

Beginning in the early 1990s, the Albany County Sewer District has continuously prided itself on its ability to reduce operating costs through the proper planning and execution of various capital process and treatment improvement projects. A unique heat recovery project at the plant promises to further reduce their operating costs and energy consumption. The operator of two multiple hearth incinerators at its North Plant in Menands, New York, the Albany County Sewer District is the first publicly operated treatment works (POTW) in North America to install a waste heat recovery, organic rankine cycle (ORC) turbine electrical generator. This system has the potential to generate more than 3.3 million kilowatt hours per year (kWh/yr) in electricity, with existing bio-solids throughput, while also offsetting 10,000 decatherms of natural gas, saving the sewer district in excess of $338,000 in energy costs annually using 2011 energy pricing. With grants and rebates funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), including the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) program and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYSEFC) Green Innovative Grant Program (GIGP), the ORC makes the most financial sense for the sewer district. This project provides environmental and economic benefits to the County of Albany by reducing energy costs with associated reduction in carbon footprint / greenhouse gases.