Cogeneration: Recycled Energy

The City of Boulder owns and operates one cogeneration facility at the 75th Street Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Methane and other gas byproducts from the wastewater treatment process are used to fuel two engine generators that produce both electricity and heat, a process known as cogeneration. The combined heat and power system provides efficient heat for the facility's buildings and treatment processes, and electricity that helps to offset operational costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Heat is recovered from the engines through a circulating water system in the engine block and exhaust piping.

Since 1987, cogeneration has produced more than 50 million kilowatt-hours of electricity for the 75th Street Wastewater Treatment Facility.  The average electricity production by the cogeneration plant is approximately 2.1 million kilowatt-hours per year.  This is enough electricity to meet the yearly needs of more than 250 Boulder households.

Advantages of Cogeneration

• Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is used to generate electricity rather instead of being released into the atmosphere.
• Cogeneration harnesses heat that would otherwise be wasted, generating efficient energy.
• Cogeneration provides useful heat without having to burn additional fuel sources.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 February 2013 12:02