Blowers, pumps and mixers make an ETP or STP one of the steadiest electricity users on a site. That steady daytime demand makes treatment plants well suited to solar power.
Start by cutting demand
Before adding solar, reduce the load:
- Replace old blowers with efficient models or add variable speed drives
- Control aeration by dissolved oxygen instead of running blowers flat out
- Fix leaking air pipes and clogged diffusers
Sizing a solar system
The system is sized from the plant’s daytime electricity use and the roof or ground area available. A grid-connected system without batteries is usually the most economical, using solar power during the day and the grid at night.
The benefits
- Lower electricity bills for decades
- Less reliance on diesel generators during the day
- A measurable cut in carbon emissions for sustainability reporting
Things to check
Roof strength, shading, cleaning access and the condition of the electrical system all affect the design. Panels also need regular cleaning to keep their output up.
We review treatment plant energy use and recommend efficiency upgrades alongside renewable energy options.
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- #Energy
- #Cost saving
