Maximizing Renewable Energy Resources While Minimizing Greenhouse Gases 

Biosolids are the nutrient rich natural by-product of wastewater treatment. They are produced by removing the organics from municipal sewage - the majority of which comes from residential homes.

Over 158,000 metric tons of “dry solids” are produced annually in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Biosolids to Energy Coalition is committed to creating energy from biosolids using state-of-the art technology to generate clean and renewable energy resources of value to society and the environment.

Biosolids Today, Clean Energy Tomorrow

Biosolids contain latent energy that can be harnessed via capture and combustion of methane gas or via direct combustion.  The conversion process involves heating the material to break down the solids and create gases that are converted to energy. Converting biosolids to energy relies on technologies including pyrolysis, gasification, thermo oxidation, fluidized bed reactor and arc plasma.

Benefits of Turning Biosolids into Energy

• Convert biosolids and green waste to energy
• Decrease greenhouse gases
• Help meet goals set by California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32), Renewable Portfolio and Bioenergy Action Plan
• Create green jobs
• Use local, sustainable supplies
• Significantly reduce truck miles (presently at more than 800,000 miles annually)
  
  

Project Goals

Local wastewater agencies can help achieve state and federal goals of meeting electricity and low carbon fuel needs with renewable sources. The Bay Area Biosolids to Energy Project is working to capture the energy within biosolids on a larger scale and in a more effective and efficient method. Read more...

Request for Qualifications Sought by June 19, 2012

In the period since 2010 short-listing of Request for Qualifications to develop a biosolids to energy facility, the BAB2E Coalition has become aware of further technology advancements and new market entrants. As a result, they have decided to provide existing short-listed firms an opportunity to update their SOQs and also invite SOQs from other groups to be considered..
Read more...

Recent and On-Going Activities

Coalition Growing:  The Coalition is currently in discussions with a large Bay Area agency interested in formally joining BAB2E in 2012. This will increase the number of Coalition member agencies to 18. Read more...

Governance Structure: Work is well underway on an amended and restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JEPA) to position the coalition for the regional facility(s) selection process. The amended and restated JEPA is planned to be completed and executed in the second quarter of 2012.

Project Updates

Stay current on the BAB2E project via the flier. The latest edition is available here.