Ameresco, Inc. has announced a significant milestone in its commitment to renewable energy with a nearly $140 million contract to develop and construct an advanced technology biogas cogeneration facility. This facility will be situated at the EchoWater Resource Recovery Facility near Elk Grove, California, and is a collaboration with the Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer).
The project aims to utilize biogas, a byproduct of the EchoWater Facility's solids treatment process, to generate renewable electricity and heat through a 13.4 MW cogeneration plant. Notably, this plant will integrate fuel cell and engine technology, ensuring exceptional efficiency and reduced pollutant emissions.
Moreover, the incorporation of a fuel cell system allows for future expandability to produce hydrogen, further enhancing the project's sustainability credentials.
Christoph Dobson, SacSewer's General Manager, underscored the organization's commitment to environmental stewardship, stating, “SacSewer is committed to being a leader in environmental stewardship. Through our sustainable efforts in resource recovery, we maximize the reuse of treatment process by-products such as biogas.”
Michael Bakas, Executive Vice President of Ameresco, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with SacSewer, emphasizing the project's contribution to optimizing the use of biogas. He remarked, “We are thrilled to partner with SacSewer, supporting their efforts to optimize the use of the biogas that is generated as a byproduct of the sewage treatment process.”
Bakas further highlighted the project's alignment with principles of the circular economy, noting, “Capturing and repurposing biogenic methane, that is already in our environment and produced by society, to displace fossil fuel is a powerful example of the circular economy in action.”
Construction of the new facility is slated for completion by July 2026, marking a significant step towards advancing clean energy solutions in the region.
