2017 Excellence in Environmental Engineering and Science® Awards Competition Winner

Grand Prize - Operations/Management

Regional Water Recycling Plant No. 5 Battery Storage

Entrant: Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA)
Engineer in Charge: Chris Berch, P.E., BCEE
Location: Chino, California
Media Contact: Jesse Pompa, P.E., IEUA

Entrant Profile

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) is an imported water wholesaler and wastewater treatment public agency serving approximately 875,000 people over a 242‐square mile region in San Bernardino County, California. IEUA serves its local community by providing wastewater treatment, generating recycled water, establishing local water resources, and implementing water conservation programs. IEUA expands the wastewater treatment process by converting biosolids and waste products into high‐quality compost, which is stored in the nation's largest fully enclosed compost facility and sold to local farms through a partnership with the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. IEUA also prides itself on being a regional innovator for generating electrical energy from renewable sources.

Since 2008, IEUA has added 3.5 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic solar panels, a 1 MW wind turbine, a 2.8 MW fuel cell, and a 1.5 MW cogeneration engine fueled with biogas from food waste to its renewable energy portfolio. In 2015, IEUA partnered with Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS), an engineering firm which specializes in energy, to maximize the availability of renewable energy by installing 3.65 MW of battery storage at IEUA facilities at no cost to IEUA. The following team of experts was developed to complete the project:

Host Facility/Customer: IEUA
Owner: AMS
Contractor: Black & Veatch
Equipment Provider: Tesla

IEUA is leading the way in water management and environmental stewardship to enhance and preserve the quality of life throughout the region by becoming the first water agency in the nation to incorporate battery storage into its energy portfolio.

Project Description

In 2015, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) partnered with Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS) to install 3.65 MW (7.3 megawatt‐hours) of state‐of‐the‐art battery storage across six of IEUA's facilities. This project is the latest in a line of renewable power projects implemented by IEUA in recent years. Since 2008, IEUA has installed 3.5 MW of solar, a 1 MW wind turbine, a 2.8 MW fuel cell, and a food waste digestion process powering a 1.5 MW cogeneration engine. The batteries will optimize the distribution and consumption of power generated by IEUA's diverse renewable portfolio and the electric utility.

In June 2016, IEUA's Regional Water Recycling Plant Number 5 (RP‐5) was the first of the six IEUA facilities to implement battery storage. A total of 1 MWh of Tesla batteries was successfully integrated into the facility's electrical profile. Key objectives achieved by the project are:

Reduces dependency on the grid by optimizing distribution of on‐site renewable power;
Achieves energy cost savings by reducing imported electricity during periods of high grid demand;
Provides relief to the grid by using stored energy during periods of high grid demand; and
Improves demand response (DR) capabilities by utilizing stored energy during DR events in addition to operational process changes to reduce grid imports.

Sustainable Integration

The RP‐5 Battery Storage project successfully demonstrates the integration of battery storage with multiple electrical generation sources, including renewable power technologies. The RP‐5 electricity profile comprises 1 MW of solar, a 1.5 MW biogas engine, and imported power from the electrical utility. The battery storage system is automated to monitor the generation of each renewable power source and the amount of power imported from the grid in real time, then determine the most cost‐effective method of supplying the power needed to operate the RP‐5 facility.

The batteries not only tie all power generation sources into a smart grid system, but do so without a negative impact to the surrounding environmental media. The footprint of the Tesla batteries is minimal, the emissions from the storage is well below state‐mandated thresholds and the water industry benefits from the sustainable water processing with the use of the constant energy supply. Deployment of the batteries during period of high grid demand also results in a decrease of Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG) by reducing the need for peaker plants operated by the electric utility to supplement power needs.

Quality in Savings

Modeling analysis performed by AMS indicates that this project will reduce IEUA's peak demand from the electric grid by as much as 14% and decrease the total energy costs by 5–10%. When implemented at all six sites, the batteries are expected to reduce IEUA's energy costs by as much as $230,000 per year. Through seven months of operation at RP‐5, the battery storage system has achieved monthly energy cost savings ranging between 9‐19%, thus far exceeding expectations.

The partnership with AMS was structured such that IEUA expended no capital outlay for the battery storage systems. Minimal capital investment coupled with ongoing reduced operational costs results in continuous savings for IEUA and its ratepayers.

Change through Innovation

IEUA's renewable portfolio was strategically developed by identifying how available resources, such as wastewater treatment infrastructure and available land, could be used to bring in self‐ generation technologies that were environmentally friendly and priced at a rate comparable to grid import costs. IEUA successfully incorporated solar, wind, fuel cell, and food waste technologies into its facilities while expending limited capital and reducing its demand on the grid.

Since installation, each of these technologies has reliably operated as a standalone system with no exchange of information with other power generation sources or overall facility demand. IEUA has not had the ability to optimize the distribution of power generated until this project was implemented. The batteries and associated software form a smart energy management system that integrates all power generation sources, reduces energy costs, and provides control and visibility at levels that were previously unattainable. These benefits are what led IEUA to become the first water agency in the nation to incorporate battery storage into its portfolio.

Furthermore, the grid has historically seen the highest demand during the middle of the day. Facilities that employ solar systems can offset peak pricing during these periods of high demand by generating power on‐site. However, the continuous increase of solar installations across the state has begun to shift the peak to early evenings, when solar systems typically do not generate power. With battery storage, IEUA can ensure that any benefits achieved through on‐site generation can shift with the peak periods, regardless of how peak pricing is structured.

Battery Intricacy

The battery storage system is equipped with software that utilizes a learning algorithm to predict facility power needs based on historical consumption data. Using this predictive tool, the software can determine optimum schedules for charging and discharging the batteries. Sophisticated electrical utility tariff engines are incorporated to assess and optimize the cost savings achieved.

The reliable operation of wastewater treatment plants lends itself to the implementation of battery storage technology. RP‐5 cost savings increased each month as the battery storage system received more operational data.

Community Headway

The batteries forge a symbiotic link between the electrical utility and customer by creating an asset during demand response events. The ability to store energy allows IEUA to use the batteries in lieu of grid imports at a time when the utility needs relief the most. The relief aids the local energy utility during their high demand periods by allowing the utility agency to redistribute IEUA's energy demand to local customers.

This project conveys a significant positive impact on the wastewater industry as well as the nation of renewable power generators by demonstrating the potential benefits that can be achieved through its implementation. IEUA has successfully integrated battery storage into its wastewater treatment facilities and renewable resources, and the lessons learned through this project can play an important role as the innovative technology is applied throughout the water/wastewater industry and broader applications in the future.

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Construction of the 1 MWh battery storage system at Inland Empire Utilities Agency's (IEUA) Regional Water Recycling Plant Number 5 (RP‐5) in Chino, California, began in April 2016.	IEUA's diverse renewable portfolio was largely developed by entering into public‐private partnerships. As a result, construction required coordination with multiple third parties to interconnect the battery storage system electrically into the solar and food waste cogeneration engine systems so that RP‐5 power consumption can be tracked in real time.

Due to the amount of water treatment processes and renewable power systems at RP‐5, the facility contains a significant amount of underground utilities that often required creative design and construction solutions to maintain compliance and safety.	The battery storage system electrically interconnects into RP‐5's solar, food waste cogeneration, and 12kV grid connections to continuously meter the power consumption and generation. The battery storage system uses a complex algorithm to determine the most cost‐effective method of meeting the site's power needs from all three sources.

Construction of the RP‐5 battery storage project was completed in June 2016. Storing electricity during periods of low grid demand and discharging for use in RP‐5's treatment processes during peak periods saved IEUA between six and nineteen percent of its electricity costs per month in the last half of 2016.	The Tesla batteries improve IEUA's demand side management capabilities during demand response events, as Operations staff can call upon the energy stored to reduce grid imports in addition to reducing operational loads.

The Tesla batteries enhance IEUA's power reliability and stabilize energy costs. As an agency providing an essential service to the public, these benefits prove invaluable to IEUA.	The RP‐5 battery storage system is integrated into the 1 MW solar array at the RP‐5 facility. The ability to store electricity generated by this tracking solar system ensures that the facility can optimize renewable resources on‐site rather than exporting if generation exceeds power demand at the time.

Tanks at the RP‐5 Solids Handling Facility achieve Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reductions by accepting locally sourced food waste that would otherwise by directed to landfills.	Food waste digesters at the RP‐5 Solids Handling Facility process food waste to produce biogas that is combusted in a 1.5 MW cogeneration engine. The renewable power produced by this process is used to power the RP‐5 facility and IEUA Headquarters. The biogas engine is interconnected to the battery storage system.

IEUA's LEED Platinum Certified headquarters is located adjacent to the RP‐5 facility. Both facilities operate on the same electrical meter and, with the integration of the battery storage system, are completely self‐sustainable on renewable power generated on‐site during periods of the day.	Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) staff and local government officials show support at the RP‐5 Battery Storage Dedication Ceremony in October of 2016. From L to R: IEUA General Manager Joe Grindstaff, IEUA Board President Steven Elie, U.S. Congressman Mark Takano, U.S. Congresswoman Norma Torres, IEUA Board Secretary Jasmin Hall, and IEUA Board Vice President Michael Camacho.

Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) Board members and Senator Connie M. Leyva at the RP‐5 Battery Storage Dedication Ceremony in October of 2016. From L to R: IEUA Board Secretary Jasmin Hall, IEUA Board Vice President Michael Camacho, Senator Connie M. Leyva, and IEUA Board President Steven Elie.	Power consumption shows the effect that the battery storage system had on RP‐5's electrical profile on a day when the 1.5 MW cogeneration engine was offline. By integrating the batteries with IEUA's renewable resources, energy distribution can be tracked in real time and optimized to save operational costs.

IEUA's Regional Water Recycling Plant Number 1 (RP‐1), located in Ontario, California, is IEUA's largest treatment plant. The facility houses an 831 kW solar system and 2.8 MW biogas fuel cell. A 2 MWh battery storage system, which is expected to be completed in 2017, will interconnect to both renewable power systems.	The solar and fuel cell systems help RP‐1 reduce GHG emissions by generating clean energy. The battery storage systems will also achieve GHG reductions by reducing the need for high‐emitting peaker plants that are brought online during periods of high grid demand. It is estimated that the 7.3 MWh of battery storage at IEUA plants will reduce GHG emissions by 5,436 metric tons annually.

IEUA also operates the Inland Empire Regional Composting Facility (IERCF) in Rancho Cucamonga, California, as a Joint Powers Authority with the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. All of the biosolids processed at IEUA's treatment plants are transported to the IERCF and processed as compost in the largest indoor composting facility in the nation. The indoor operation requires constant air changes and is an energy‐intensive process. The facility also houses 1 MW of solar on the rooftop of the building.	IEUA's Regional Water Recycling Plant Number 4 (RP‐4) is located adjacent to the IERCF in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The facility houses a 1 MW wind turbine to provide renewable power to the facility. RP‐4 shares an electrical meter with the IERCF and accounts for the highest electricity costs across the Agency. A 2.5 MWh battery storage system is expected to complete construction at RP‐4 in 2017.

IEUA's Carbon Canyon Water Recycling Facility (CCWRF), located in Chino, California, uses a 625 kW solar system to ease grid demand during peak periods. Construction of a 1 MWh battery storage system is expected to complete construction in 2017.	IEUA's 1630 East and West Pump Stations, located in Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga, California, respectively, are used to distribute recycled water from IEUA's wastewater treatment plants to end users and groundwater replenishment basins in IEUA's northern service area. A total of0.8 MWh of battery storage is expected to be installed at the sites in 2017.