This online engineering PDH course describes the technical and economic potential for introducing combined heat and power (CHP) systems to wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs), especially smaller WWTFs with influent flow rates of 1 to 5 MGD. The course also presents operational observations obtained through interviews with WWTF operators who have employed CHP. Some of the key findings given in the course are that 1) CHP is a reliable, cost-effective option for WWTFs that have, or are planning to install, anaerobic digesters; 2) while many WWTFs have implemented CHP, the potential still exists to use more CHP, based on technical and economic benefits; 3) on a national scale, the technical potential for additional CHP at WWTFs is over 400 MW of biogas-based electricity generating capacity and approximately 38,000 MMBtu/day of thermal energy; and 4) translating CHP potential into actual successes requires an understanding of operational realities. This course is based on the document, “Opportunities for Combined Heat & Power at Wastewater Treatment Plants: Market Analysis and Lessons from the Field,” produced by the Environmental Protection Agency Combined Heat and Power Partnership, October, 2011.

Learning Objectives

• Overview of CHP and its benefits at WWTFs
• Market for WWTFs with CHP
• Technical potential for CHP at WWTFs
• Economic potential for CHP at WWTFs
• First-hand observations gathered through interviews of WWTF operators regarding the benefits and challenges of CHP