Sub metering Project

Background

The aim of this project is to assist water corporations with the implementation of sub metering programs at their waste water treatment plants (WWTPs). Energy consumption at waste water treatment plants represents a significant proportion of total water corporation energy spend with large individual plants using in excess of $600,000 p.a. in electricity. Currently, little is known about the actual energy consumption of the individual high energy use systems within WWTPs, and due to the process complexity and large number of sub-systems within the plants, the current standard of whole of site metering does not provide sufficient detail to be able to identify where energy inefficiencies exist.

It is hoped that by installing sub metering hardware at WWTPs, specific energy consumption data relating to key sub systems and industrial processes within WWTPs will be obtained, thus allowing water corporations to accurately assess energy performance and pinpoint inefficiencies and areas for improvement.

Description of trial

Three individual water corporation sites will participate in this project and collect data. Key site energy consumers within each of the participating WWTPs will be identified and electric sub meters will be installed. Data analytics platforms will also be installed to perform measurement and verification, baseline plant processes, measure energy performance and highlight areas of improvement or issues when they arise. The trial will be carried out over the course of 12 months, after which the success of the project will be assessed.

Project lead Simon Prunster - Yarra Valley Water.

Current status of trial

The IWN energy group have engaged the services of  OutPerformers to benchmark a standard approach to sub metering water and waste water treatment facilities. Yarra Valley Water, Coliban and North East Water are currently undertaking this pilot project in four phases:

1.       Conduct an energy audit to identify the best sub-metering solution.

2.       Install the sub metering.

3.       Generate ad-hoc reports to show the value of sub metering.

4.       Produce the standard template for other water corps to follow.

The project is currently at end of phase two and will begin to harness the data.