HOUSTON, May 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ohio State Energy Partners announced the winners of the Smart Campus Challenge, a competition aimed at fostering innovation and sustainability at The Ohio State University (Ohio State). Sponsored by ENGIE North America (ENGIE), the event showcased eight teams comprising 29 participants, who presented their projects in a format reminiscent of ‘Shark Tank’ to a panel of judges.

The winning project, Utensils To-Go, aims to end the use of plastic utensils on campus. Utensils To-Go team members Hanshu Kotta, Jashnavi Bommana, Shreya Sree Morishetty and Dhaarini Prasad Sudha earned $60,000 in project funding and a trip to Paris in the summer of 2024. Partnering with a leading reusable packaging company, Utensils To-Go will introduce sustainable alternatives to plastic utensils, thus contributing to the university’s goal of diverting 90 percent of waste away from landfills.

“The Smart Campus Challenge provides a platform for students to showcase their creativity and address pressing environmental challenges facing our communities,” said Sarah Buckingham, data analyst from ENGIE. “This competition not only fosters creativity and ingenuity but also encourages students to address pressing issues while improving sustainability on Ohio State’s campus.”

In addition to the Utensils To-Go project, Team Mycoremediation secured second place with their innovative approach to waste management using fungal degradation. This project, awarded $20,000 in project funding, seeks to establish mycoremediation as an effective and eco-friendly solution to waste problems in urban settings. Meanwhile, the Ohio State Uniform Campus Recycling Initiative clinched third place, focusing on enhancing waste management practices both on and off-campus.

Ohio State Energy Partners is a partnership between ENGIE North America and Axium Infrastructure, which has a concession with Ohio State to own and operate the campus energy infrastructure. Committed to promoting innovation, OSEP contributes $810,000 annually to support academic collaboration efforts at Ohio State. The Smart Campus Challenge originated from OSEP’s commitment to utilizing collaboration resources while promoting sustainability initiatives at the university. The inaugural Smart Campus Challenge in 2019 led to the establishment of the Ohio State Food Recovery Network, highlighting the event’s significant impact on campus sustainability efforts. OSEP remains committed to driving positive change and fostering a positive culture at the University.

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About ENGIE North America

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 97,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.


Contact Data

Michael Clingan
ENGIE North America
8327456057
michael.clingan@external.engie.com

MIAMI & HOUSTON – The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami (ICA) and a subsidiary of ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced today an innovative new collaboration that advances an emerging renewable energy solution and expands the museum’s sustainability efforts. Under the terms of a five-year agreement with ENGIE Resources LLC, ICA Miami will procure Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from ENGIE’s Priddy Wind Project (Mills County, Texas) to match 100% of the museum’s forecast electricity consumption. As the first renewable energy agreement in Florida for ENGIE Resources, the collaboration represents increasing interest for similar solutions in markets that are not yet open to retail power competition.

A leading contemporary art museum in the U.S. and globally, ICA Miami is recognized for promoting continuous experimentation and embracing innovative practices, through its exhibitions and programs and in its operations and practices. In 2020, the museum was among the original grantees for the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation’s sustainability funding and has since implemented carbon offsets and sustainable shipping practices for major exhibitions. With this energy agreement, ICA Miami is matching 100% of its electricity consumption for the building and museum operations with project-specific Green-e® certified RECs that avoid the greenhouse gas emissions of 1,352 metric tons of CO2 equivalent.*

Commercial and industrial customers from any market can support sustainability efforts by sourcing project-specific RECs, but interest is in its early stages. “Customer understanding and adoption of RECs takes time,” said Brad McIntyre, business development manager at ENGIE Resources. “ICA Miami is a great jumping-off point for us in the South Florida market,” said McIntyre. “RECs provide sustainable solutions for developers to invest in new assets and we expect this agreement to accelerate the impact of renewables in this and other similar markets.”

“ICA Miami has long been committed to adopting best practices for sustainability and reducing the museum’s carbon footprint. Our alliance with ENGIE not only supports the museum’s ongoing sustainability efforts, but also contributes to an emerging renewable energy solution that is not yet prevalent in South Florida. We are excited to be a part of bringing these kinds of solutions to our community and to continue expanding on this work,” said Alex Gartenfeld, ICA Miami Irma and Norman Braman artistic director.
Acting as an advisor on the agreement is Industrial Energy (Fort Lauderdale, FL). “It is exciting to be at the forefront of a solution that promotes planet-friendly power in a market that is not yet open to retail choice,” said Christian Amabile, executive vice president. It’s a privilege to work with an organization that plays such an important role in the social landscape.”

Green-e® RECs are certified by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. Certification ensures that RECs are properly accounted for and that no double counting takes place.

*EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator


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About the Institute of Contemporary Art

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami) is dedicated to promoting continuous experimentation in contemporary art, advancing new scholarship, and fostering the exchange of art and ideas throughout the Miami region and internationally. Through an energetic calendar of exhibitions and programs, and its collection, ICA Miami provides an important international platform for the work of local, emerging, and under-recognized artists, and advances the public appreciation and understanding of the most innovative art of our time. Launched in 2014, ICA Miami opened its new permanent home in Miami’s Design District on December 1, 2017. The museum’s central location positions it as a cultural anchor within the community and enhances its role in developing cultural
literacy throughout the Miami region. The museum offers free admission, providing audiences with open, public access to artistic excellence year-round.
icamiami.org


About ENGIE North America

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 97,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, www.linkedin.com/company/engie-north-america-inc and twitter.com/ENGIENorthAm.


About Industrial Energy

Industrial Energy is a leading energy advisor to commercial, industrial, and institutional clients. The company leadership has over 35 years of experience in providing supply, strategy, and full coverage, and function in the form of on-staff energy advisors to best assist customers. Industrial Energy is at the forefront of developing renewable energy supply solutions for end-use customers of all sizes, including site-specific Power Purchasing Agreements, and Virtual Power Purchasing Agreements. industrialenergy.info


Media Contacts

ICA Miami: icamiami@resnicow.com

ENGIE North America: michael.clingan@external.engie.com

HOUSTON, April 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ENGIE, a leader in the Net Zero energy transition, envisions continued strong customer demand for its renewables solutions in the U.S. and aims to grow its number of integrated projects substantially.

ENGIE was recently named the top corporate seller of clean power purchase agreements (PPAs) globally in what was a record year for PPAs, according to BloombergNEF’s (BNEF) 2023 full year rankings. According to the report, corporations publicly announced a record 46 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind contracts in 2023, a 12% increase from 2022. The U.S. remained the largest market for PPAs with 17.3GW of deals announced.

“Our strong customer focus combined with our safe, expert project delivery is at the heart of our growth in the U.S.,” said David Carroll, chief renewables officer, senior VP, North America region for ENGIE. “Our reputation for consistently delivering projects that enable our customers to meet their public commitments with confidence is key. Customers value our track record of delivering projects on-time, on-spec and on-budget. We do this by leveraging our global scale and integrated model complemented by our energy expertise and local presence.”

ENGIE currently has 7 GW of solar, wind and battery storage projects in North America and that number is growing. Last year, it ranked among the top 10 clean power owners and number 4 in top developers of clean power capacity installed in the U.S., according to American Clean Power (ACP) 2023 Market Report.

The company views its pace of growth accelerating to support its customers as PPAs increasingly become the centerpiece of companies’ sustainability strategies. Its growth pipeline also ranked in the top 10 in the U.S. according to the ACP report, with an emphasis on co-locating energy storage with solar and wind projects with its acquisition of Broad Reach Power last year.

“Our success is attributed to our team of clean energy experts – our people. They are the driving force behind our achievements, impacting one customer and project at a time,” said Prathima Sundar, chief human resources officer and VP at ENGIE N.A. “We actively seek out and cultivate top talent within the industry, fostering a culture that values diversity and inclusion. This approach ensures that we deliver the highest quality sustainability solutions to our customers.”

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About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 97,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

Largest Financing to Date Supports Acceleration of Renewables and Continued Expansion for ENGIE in the U.S.

HOUSTON – ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced that it recently completed more than $1bn of Tax Equity financing, through separate agreements with three banks, J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs and BNP Paribas. The financing pertains to a portfolio of recently commissioned renewable projects in the U.S.
The overall portfolio consists of 6 projects across ERCOT, MISO and SPP, including 950 MW of solar and 353 MW of wind capacity. The aggregate 1.3 GW of these renewable projects represents one of the largest Tax Equity financing arrangements for ENGIE North America so far.

“We are delighted that ENGIE is once again able to collaborate with some of the world’s leading financial institutions to accelerate the energy transition towards a net zero future,” said Dave Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer and SVP, ENGIE North America. “This transaction reflects our proven and recognized track record in developing, building and operating renewables assets, both in North America and globally”.

ENGIE is a leader in the net zero energy transition and currently has more than 7 GW of renewable production in operation or construction across the U.S. and Canada.
“ENGIE can rely on its strong relationships with leading financial investors to support its continued acceleration of renewable growth in the U.S.,” said Audrey Robat, Chief Financial Officer, ENGIE North America. “This deal also highlights the outstanding level of commitment and expertise of our teams in delivering reliable and affordable renewable generation to the grid.”

Globally ENGIE has an aspiration to add 4 GW per year globally through 2025, with North America as a material contributor to that growth.

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About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 96,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and
ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.
Contacts:

ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, External Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com
832-745-6057

District-wide Project including Solar Energy, HVAC and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations to Deliver Savings Over 25 Years

Dublin, Calif. and HOUSTON – Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) today announced the unveiling of their $26 million sustainability and energy efficiency project. Working with ENGIE North America (ENGIE), a leader in the net zero energy transition, this project includes the installation of 4.5 megawatts (MW) of solar panels, HVAC upgrades, and the deployment of 66 electric vehicle ports across 12 schools and the district office, marking a significant milestone in the district’s commitment to green initiatives and fiscal responsibility. The district-wide project also includes a student engagement program that features internships, a STEM education program, and a living laboratory.


The project showcases DUSD’s dedication to providing a greener and healthier environment for students, staff, and the community. The comprehensive scope of this initiative encompasses several components including:

• 4.5 MW of solar panels: The installation of solar panels in 13 district-wide locations will harness the power of the sun to generate clean, renewable energy.

• HVAC system upgrades: The HVAC system upgrades will ensure optimal indoor air quality and temperature control, creating a comfortable and conducive learning environment for students and staff. These enhancements will also contribute to energy efficiency, reducing both costs and environmental impact.

• Electric vehicle charging stations: The introduction of 33 level-two electric vehicle charging stations across schools promotes the adoption of sustainable transportation options among staff, students, and the community. It aligns with DUSD’s commitment to supporting electric vehicle infrastructure and reducing emissions.

“Today marks a significant milestone for our District. We are thrilled to unveil a project that embodies our dedication to sustainability and responsible energy management. With the installation of solar panels, HVAC system upgrades, and the introduction of electric vehicle charging stations, we are taking substantial steps towards creating a greener, healthier environment for our students, staff, and our community. This initiative showcases our commitment to a more sustainable future, and we’re excited to witness the positive impact it will have on our schools,” said Chris Hobbs, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services.

“This groundbreaking project is a testament to DUSD’s vision for a sustainable future, reflecting its dedication to promoting environmental responsibility,” said Jean-Francois Chartrain, Managing Director, Energy Solutions Americas at ENGIE. “The anticipated benefits of this project extend far beyond environmental sustainability. Over a 25-year period, it is estimated that the project will yield a net savings of $30 million. These savings will be reinvested into educational programs, improving facilities, and enhancing the overall educational experience for students.”

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About the Dublin Unified School District
The Dublin Unified School District serves over 12,900 students, from preschool through adult education, in a diverse suburban environment. The district comprises seven elementary schools, two middle schools, one K-8 school, one alternative high school, and one comprehensive high school, with a second under construction. The Dublin Unified School District’s mission is to educate every student to become a lifelong learner by providing a safe and supportive environment that fosters collective responsibility for each student’s success.

The Dublin Unified School District is ranked as one of the “Best School Districts in California” and its schools have been recognized with numerous accolades, including Advanced Placement Honor Roll, National Blue Ribbon School, Gold Ribbon Award, Project Lead The Way Distinguished School, California School of Character, National School of Character, Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll, California Distinguished School, and Title 1 Academic Achievement Award School.

About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 96,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.


Contacts:

Dublin Unified School District
Sarah Lopez, Director of Communications and Community Engagement
lopezsarah@dublinusd.org
925-828-2551

ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, External Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com
832-745-6057

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. and HOUSTON, Sept. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — GetBlok Farms© has entered into a two-year renewable energy agreement with ENGIE Resources LLC, a subsidiary of ENGIE North America (ENGIE). This renewable energy purchase includes Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from the Priddy Wind Project (Mills County, Texas). GetBlok Farms© will receive RECs to match the forecasted consumption for its hydroponics farm in West Aliquippa (PA).


The Green-e® certified RECs in this agreement are determined by the Center for Resource Solutions to be independently verified to represent the environmental benefits of one MWh of renewable energy. Over the term of this agreement, the RECs will equal 100% of GetBlok Farms© demand and avoid the equivalent CO2 emissions from 343,730 pounds of coal burned, or the greenhouse gas emissions avoided by 106 tons of waste recycled instead of landfilled.*

“Sustainability drives the core of our operations,” said Vinnie Lima, Managing Member at GetBlok Farms. “Our approach for hyper-local and highly sustainable farming methods must address the energy consumption in hydroponic farms. As a core piece of our sustainability commitment, we are delighted to leverage wind-generated Green-e® power from the Priddy Wind Project designed, developed and operated by ENGIE.”

The Priddy Wind Project is a 300 MW asset with 63 turbines that can produce electricity with wind speeds as low as 6.7 mph. The project is located 150 miles southwest of Dallas and commenced commercial operations in February 2022.

“Not only is this one of the first customer announcements for renewable energy from the Priddy Wind Project, it is one of the first hydroponic farms in our portfolio of customers,” said Taymur Bunkheila, director of sustainability solutions and energy+ initiatives at ENGIE Resources. “We are proud to bring the benefits of planet-friendly power to an operation with such a noble cause.” 

*According to EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

About GetBlok Farms
GetBlok Farms utilizes Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), growing over 2.5 acres of fresh produce in only 320 square feet. Through a state-of-the-art CEA system, we are able to consume 97% less water than traditional farming, while utilizing no pesticides or herbicides. By “moving farms, not food”, we are able to achieve an astounding reduction of over 1500 miles in transportation, leading to a substantial decrease in CO2 emissions and waste. Located in Aliquippa, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, GetBlok Farms is deeply rooted in community involvement and economic development in disadvantaged food deserts. 

About the ENGIE Group
The ENGIE Group (made up of ENGIE S.A. and its subsidiaries and affiliates) is a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. With its 96,000 employees, its customers, partners and stakeholders, the Group is committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. Inspired by its purpose (“raison d’être”), ENGIE reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on its key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to its customers. ENGIE S.A. (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. In North America, ENGIE companies have delivered integrated, innovative energy solutions to public and private organizations for nearly half a century. We employ approximately 3,000 people focused on enabling our customers to become more sustainable and achieve their decarbonization targets through expert project delivery and competitive solutions. For more information on ENGIE in North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

SOURCE ENGIE Resources

ENGIE Energy Marketing (ENGIE) today announced an innovative agreement to provide renewable energy to cover the consumption of select Microsoft data centers in Texas. By utilizing existing renewable energy contracts between the two companies, this collaboration will accelerate Microsoft’s mission to transition to 100% carbon-free energy on an hourly basis by 2030.

This customized agreement will allow Microsoft, one of the world’s largest purchasers of renewable energy, to match ERCOT data center load with clean power. ENGIE, a leading developer and owner of renewable power capacity, will source the energy from their portfolio of wind, solar and battery projects in Texas.

Microsoft is recognized as a leader in the industry with the 100/100/0 goal which aims to have 100% of electricity consumption, 100% of the time, matched by carbon-free energy purchases by 2030. With this deal in Texas, ENGIE is providing direct support of Microsoft’s ambition to drive grid decarbonization.

ENGIE is well positioned to deliver on Microsoft’s ambition through its integrated approach – from building and operating renewable energy generation and storage assets to sourcing power through its global energy management activities.

“Microsoft continues to be a leader in the market for corporate renewable energy procurement and a key alliance for ENGIE in the Net Zero energy transition,” said Ken Robinson, ENGIE Energy Marketing N.A. President and CEO. ” We are proud to help them achieve their ambitions, where many other companies continue to struggle. Our goal is to grow our 24×7 hourly carbon-free matching program in key markets with electricity generated from zero carbon energy sources including wind and solar.”

“We are excited that this project has kicked off and will provide us meaningful insight into future hourly carbon free program design,” said Adrian Anderson, Microsoft General Manager, Renewables and Carbon Free Energy. “We look forward to working with ENGIE to meet our 100/100/0 goals.”

BKV and ENGIE will collaborate on the sale and purchase of natural gas and associated Carbon Sequestered Credits, a new measured, third-party verified, carbon sequestered product. This innovative arrangement brings together two industry leaders dedicated to addressing climate change.  

BKV will deliver ENGIE physical natural gas, as well as an equivalent amount of gas tokens that represent the environmental attributes associated with both responsibly sourced gas (RSG) production and capturing carbon dioxide from the gas stream and injecting it into a permitted facility owned by BKV. The CO2 sequestration project underpinning this transaction is BKV’s Barnett Zero project, located in Bridgeport, Texas. The CO2 capture and sequestration will be third-party certified.  

We are proud to work with BKV in its development of innovative, differentiated gas products that are key to ensuring the role that natural gas can play as part of the energy transition. This transaction is representative of our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to limit the environmental impact of its activities. Additionally, Carbon-Sequestered Gas represents an opportunity for end-users to purchase measured and verified differentiated natural gas that is certified and registered using blockchain technology. We believe this level of transparency and trust is critical for the energy transition.  

To see the full press release, go to >> https://bkv.com/news/bkv-engie-press-release-carbon-sequestered-gas

ENGIE drives PPA innovation after being ranked as the top developer to sell corporate clean energy PPAs by BloombergNEF in their latest Market Outlook report. Since 2019, we have shown resilience and consistency by ranking in the top three for developers, and our success in 2023 is no exception. We signed 19 deals covering over 1GW in five different countries, bringing our total corporate PPA portfolio to 7.3GW. Our clients trust us to support them in their adoption of renewable energy and to help them meet their energy reliability, sustainability, and efficiency goals.

We are proud to lead in both wind and solar technology for MW sold through PPAs, and we look forward to continued success as an innovative provider of sustainable energy solutions. On a local note, we are proud that the majority of the deals in the report were contributed by North America, an important growing market for ENGIE.

Read the full BloombergNEF report.

Clean and Efficient Energy Project Expected to Save $83 Million

 

RICHMOND, CALIF. and HOUSTON, TX – The Board of Directors of West County Wastewater (WCW) has announced plans for a comprehensive energy, infrastructure, and process improvement project designed to significantly reduce the organization’s carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.  This infrastructure upgrade project will reduce West County Wastewater’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by 93 percent at WCW’s Water Quality and Resource Recovery Plant and is expected to save more than $83 million over the project’s lifetime.

“To us, community and environmental stewardship is about more than providing wastewater services,” said Andrew Clough, WCW Deputy General Manager. “It is about working together to encourage and employ healthy industry and environmental practices that will benefit the region, our communities, and our ecosystem for years ahead.”

The new comprehensive infrastructure project will help WCW achieve its vision. Led by low-carbon energy leader ENGIE North America (ENGIE), the initiative will include significant upgrades to WCW’s Water Quality and Resource Recovery Plant. Two new digesters, an addition of 1.1 megawatts (MW) of solar power generation, a thermal sludge drying system, and solids dewatering, among other improvements, will greatly improve WCW’s control over its handling of biosolids.

“This project is one of the most impactful energy, infrastructure and process improvement programs in the United States,” said Stefaan Sercu, Managing Director at ENGIE North America. “Our alliance with WCW will serve as a proof point for the benefits of the comprehensive energy collaboration approach. Wastewater treatment is an especially energy-demanding operation—but wastewater districts that take advantage of ENGIE’s expertise at the energy-water nexus can make the improvements necessary for the reliability of their equipment, safety of the local community, and environmental sustainability.”

Historically, biosolids produced by WCW have been sent to landfill due to the fact they did not meet the high -quality standards required for beneficial reuse. By generating Class A biosolids, suitable for agricultural and other reclamation uses, these upgrades will eliminate organic material being sent to landfill. This will prepare the organization for the 2022 implementation of SB 1383, the “Short-Lived Climate Pollutants: Organic Waste Reductions” regulations, and reduce ongoing disposal costs. The project will also result in a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the decomposition of sludge in the landfills.

ENGIE will implement the plant improvements and maintain the installed equipment over the next 20 years under an energy savings performance contract. This approach will leverage ENGIE’s deep expertise in energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions to optimize operational efficiencies throughout the equipment’s lifetime. ENGIE is targeting a 4.2 million kWh reduction in WCW’s annual energy use.

The scope of the project comprises a 1.1 MW solar power system, LED lighting, electric vehicle charging stations and wastewater treatment plant upgrades including a new grit separation system, rotary drum thickeners, a high efficiency aeration blower, new digesters, a 450 kW cogeneration system powered by biogas from the digester, a sludge dewatering system, a sludge thermal dryer system and equalization basins. Together, these systems’ onsite generation will meet close to 100 percent of the District’s facilities and wastewater treatment electricity needs.

Finally, the initiative will bring job opportunities and economic benefits to the Richmond area. In addition to creating jobs through the District Project Labor Agreement, it will create internships and career pathways in the wastewater industry for local high school and college students.

 

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About West County Wastewater

West County Wastewater serves several communities in the Richmond, California, area. The organization owns, operates, and maintains a wastewater collection system with 249 miles of gravity sewer pipelines, 17 lift stations, 6 miles of pressure force mains, and a Water Quality and Resource Recovery Plant with a capacity of 12.5 million gallons per day (mgd). All told, WCW provides wastewater services to approximately 34,000 residences and 2,450 commercial and industrial businesses, with a total population of nearly 100,000.

About ENGIE North America

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 170,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers.  In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more).  For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

Media Contacts:

West County: Kate Gibbs, kgibbs@wcwd.org, 510-390-4844

ENGIE North America:  Michael Clingan, michael.clingan@external.engie.com, (832) 745-6057